Tea...is a religion of the art of life.
Okakura KakuzoRead
Fain would we remain barbarians, if our claim to civilization were to be based on the gruesome glory of war.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the idea of civilization being defined by war and violence.
Okakura Kakuzo argues that true civilization should not be measured by the achievements garnered from war, which he refers to as 'gruesome glory'. Instead, he suggests that a society that prides itself on its martial prowess is more barbaric than civilized, highlighting the intrinsic value of peace and culture over conflict.
Themes
CivilizationWarPeaceCultureBarbarism
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the impacts of war on society during a peace conference.
More from Okakura Kakuzo
All quotes βTeaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order.
Okakura KakuzoRead
Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.
Okakura KakuzoRead
Tea is a work of art and needs a master hand to bring out its noblest qualities. We have good and bad teas, as we have good and bad paintings - generally the latter.
Okakura KakuzoRead
For life is an expression, our unconscious actions the constant betrayal of our innermost thought. Perhaps we reveal ourselves too much in small things because we have so little of the great to conceal. The tiny incidents of daily rouitine are as much a commentary of racial ideas as the highest flight of philosophy or poetry.
Okakura KakuzoRead
The ancient sages never put their teachings in a systematic form. They spoke in paradoxes, for they were afraid of uttering half-truths. They began by talking like fools and ended by making their hearers wise.
Okakura KakuzoRead
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