The whole life lies in the verb seeing.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
The pagan loves the earth in order to enjoy it and confine himself within it; the Christian in order to make it purer and draw from it the strength to escape from it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote contrasts the pagan and Christian perspectives on nature, highlighting the differing motivations behind their love for the earth.
Pierre Teilhard De Chardin's quote reflects the philosophical dichotomy between two worldviews: one that embraces the earth for immediate pleasure and confinement, like the pagan, and another that seeks to purify and transcend worldly existence, as represented by the Christian. It suggests that while pagans find joy in earthly experiences, Christians strive for spiritual elevation by engaging with the earth in a transformative and redemptive manner. This highlights the significance of purpose in our relationship with the environment.
Themes
EarthNatureSpiritualityPurityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In my speech about environmental responsibility, I referenced how our approach to nature reflects our values, using Teilhard De Chardin's quote.
More from Pierre Teilhard De Chardin
All quotes →Religion and science are the two conjugated faces or phases of one and the same complete act of knowledge - the only one which can embrace the past and future of evolution and so contemplate, measure and fulfil them.
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The mineral world is a much more supple and mobile world than could be imagined by the science of the ancients. Vaguely analogous to the metamorphoses of living creatures, there occurs in the most solid rocks, as we now know, perpetual transformation of a mineral species.
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We may, perhaps, imagine that the creation was finished long ago. But that would be quite wrong. It continues still more magnificently, and at the highest levels of the world.
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Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves. All we need is to imagine our ability to love developing until it embraces the totality of men and the earth.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
If there is one thing I fear less than everything else, it is, I believe, persecution for my opinions. There are a good many points about which I may be diffident, but when it comes to questions of Truth and intellectual independence, there is no holding me - I can envisage no finer end than to sacrifice oneself for a conviction.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
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