It should not be expected that what is spiritual can be brought before the eyes, before the senses. It must be experienced inwardly and spiritually.
Rudolf SteinerRead
It is one of the sternest judgments confronting a human being after death that insofar as he is himself evil, he can see only what resembles himself because he can reproduce in his own being only the physiognomy of other evil people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
After death, individuals can only perceive what reflects their own inner nature, particularly if they are evil.
Rudolf Steiner's quote delves into the concept of self-reflection and moral perception. It suggests that after death, a person who embodies evil will only recognize and resonate with others who possess similar traits, as their own existence limits their understanding and recognition of goodness. This idea underscores the broader philosophical discourse on morality, self-awareness, and the consequences of one’s character on perception and understanding.
Themes
EvilPerceptionSelfMoralityAfterlife
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a philosophy class discussion about the morality of actions and their consequences.
More from Rudolf Steiner
All quotes →In ancient, prehistoric times, the temples of the spirit were outwardly visible, but today, when our life has become so unspiritual, they no longer exist where we can see them with our physical eyes. Yet spiritually they are still present everywhere, and whoever seeks can find them.
Rudolf SteinerRead
Only a person who has passed through the gate of humility can ascend to the heights of the spirit.
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Most actions derive not from your own initiative but from your family circumstances, your education, your calling, and so on. You must therefore give up a little time to performing actions which derive from yourself alone. They need not be important; quite insignificant actions fulfill the same purpose.
Rudolf SteinerRead
Love is higher than opinion. If people love one another the most varied opinions can be reconciled - thus one of the most important tasks for humankind today and in the future is that we should learn to live together and understand one another. If this human fellowship is not achieved, all talk of development is empty.
Rudolf SteinerRead
We will not find the inner strength to evolve to a higher level if we do not inwardly develop this profound feeling that there is something higher than ourselves.
Rudolf SteinerRead
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