Faith consists in being vitally concerned with that ultimate reality to which I give the symbolical name of God. Whoever reflects earnestly on the meaning of life is on the verge of an act of faith.
Paul TillichRead
In the depth of the anxiety of having to die is the anxiety of being eternally forgotten.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The fear of death is closely tied to the fear of being forgotten after we are gone.
This quote by Paul Tillich delves into the existential anxieties that accompany the inevitability of death. It suggests that deeper than the fear of ceasing to exist is the fear that one's life and essence may not leave a lasting impact, leading to the notion of being forgotten by future generations. This highlights the human desire for legacy and remembrance, emphasizing a longing for significance in a world that often overlooks individual lives.
Themes
AnxietyDeathForgettingLegacyExistential
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about mortality and legacy during a philosophy class.
More from Paul Tillich
All quotes βCruelty towards others is always also cruelty towards ourselves.
Paul TillichRead
He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.
Paul TillichRead
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
Paul TillichRead
The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny of [humanity] as a whole and in the destiny of their city in particular; for their acts in which freedom was united with destiny have contributed to the destiny in which they participate. They are guilty, not of committing the crimes of which their group is accused, but of contributing to the destiny in which these crimes happened.
Paul TillichRead
Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human
Paul TillichRead
Similar quotes
If you don't take a Sabbath, something is wrong. You're doing too much, you're being too much in charge. You've got to quit, one day a week, and just watch what God is doing when you're not doing anything.
Eugene H. PetersonRead
The reality of the Eucharistic sacrifice has always been at the heart of Catholic faith; called into question in the 16th century, it was solemnly reaffirmed at the Council of Trent against the backdrop of our justification in Christ.
Pope Benedict XviRead
As far back as I can remember I have unconsciously referred to the experiences of a previous state of existence.
Henry David ThoreauRead
If we don't have access to facts, we can't trust each other. Without trust, there's no law. Without law, there's no democracy.
Timothy D. SnyderRead
I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.
Dalai LamaRead
Just think how many thoughts a blanket smothers while one lies alone in bed, and how many unhappy dreams it keeps warm.
Franz KafkaRead