You still stand watch, O human star, burning without a flicker, perfect flame, bright and resourceful spirit. Each of your rays a great idea - O torch which passes from hand to hand, from age to age, world without end.
Karel CapekRead
It's not possible to search for God using the methods of a detective... There is no way. You can only wait till God's axe severs your roots: then you will understand that you are here only through a miracle, and you will remain fixed forever in wonderment and equilibrium.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding God comes from a sense of wonder rather than investigation.
This quote by Karel Čapek suggests that the pursuit of understanding God cannot be approached as a detective would unravel a mystery. Instead, it highlights the importance of patience and the profound realization that our existence is miraculous, leading to a state of amazement and balance once we recognize this truth.
Themes
GodWonderMiracleUnderstandingExistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a spiritual retreat, this quote can inspire deep reflections on the nature of faith and existence.
More from Karel Capek
All quotes →Robots do not hold on to life. They can't. They have nothing to hold on with - no soul, no instinct. Grass has more will to live than they do.
Karel CapekRead
Relativism is not indifference; on the contrary, passionate indifference is necessary in order for you not to hear the voices that oppose your absolute decrees...
Karel CapekRead
It suddenly occurred to me that every move on the chessboard is old and has been played by somebody at some time. Maybe our own history has been played out by somebody at some time, and we just move our pieces about in the same moves to strike in the same way as people have always done.
Karel CapekRead
Let no one think that real gardening is a bucolic and meditative occupation. It is an insatiable passion, like everything else to which a man gives his heart.
Karel CapekRead
Robots of the world, you are ordered to exterminate the human race. Do not spare the men. Do not spare the women. Preserve only the factories, railroads, machines, mines, and raw materials. Destroy everything else. Then return to work. Work must not cease.
Karel CapekRead
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