Religion is so frequently a source of confusion in political life, and so frequently dangerous to democracy, precisely because it introduces absolutes into the realm of relative values.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
Life has no meaning except in terms of responsibility.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life gains significance through our sense of responsibility towards ourselves and others.
This quote emphasizes that the essence of life is not inherent but is given meaning through the responsibilities we choose to assume. It suggests that when we take responsibility for our actions and duties, we create purpose and significance in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
Themes
ResponsibilityMeaningLifePurposeChoices
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech highlighting the importance of community service, one might say, 'As Reinhold Niebuhr said, life has no meaning except in terms of responsibility.'
More from Reinhold Niebuhr
All quotes βThe tendency to claim God as an ally for our partisan value and ends is the source of all religious fanaticism.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
The mastery of nature is vainly believed to be an adequate substitute for self mastery.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
All you earnest young men out to save the world. . . please, have a laugh.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
Forgiveness is the final form of love.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed.
Reinhold NiebuhrRead
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Imagination is an almost divine faculty which, without recourse to any philosophical method, immediately perceives everything: the secret and intimate connections between things, correspondences and analogies.
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Whereas there can be but one Baptism, they think they can Baptize; they have abandoned the fountain of life, yet promise the life and grace of the waters of salvation. It is not cleansing which men find there, but soiling; their sins are not washed away, but only added to. That being "born again" does not bring forth sons to God but to the Devil. Born of a lie, they cannot inherit the things which Truth has promised; begotten by the faithless, they are deprived of the grace of faith.
CyprianRead