A man is never so truly and intensely himself as when he is most possessed by God. It is impossible to say where, in the spiritual life, the human will leaves off and divine grace begins.
William Ralph IngeRead
Every institution not only carries within it the seeds of its own dissolution, but prepares the way for its most hated rival.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Institutions inherently have the potential to decline and also create conditions for their challengers to emerge.
William Ralph Inge's quote suggests that all institutions are destined to face decline, often due to internal weaknesses, while simultaneously fostering the emergence of opposition or rival forces. This idea reflects the cyclical nature of organizations and systems, indicating that what might initially seem like a stable structure may ultimately contribute to its own downfall and pave the path for alternatives or competitors that embody the opposition.
Themes
InstitutionDissolutionRivalPhilosophyChange
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the weaknesses in bureaucratic systems.
More from William Ralph Inge
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Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.
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Deliberate cruelty to our defenceless and beautiful little cousins is surely one of the meanest and most detestable vices of which a human being can be guilty.
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The enemies of freedom do not argue; they shout and they shoot.
William Ralph IngeRead
Bereavement is the deepest initiation into the mysteries of human life, an initiation more searching and profound than even happy love.
William Ralph IngeRead
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