There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Any religion is forever in danger of petrifaction into mere ritual and habit, though ritual and habit be essential to religion.
Interpretation
Religions can become stagnant if they focus solely on rituals and habits, despite their importance.
T. S. Eliot's quote highlights the paradox of religion being both vital and potentially stagnant. While rituals and established practices are essential for the sustenance of faith, they can also lead to a rigid adherence that undermines the dynamic and transformative nature of spiritual belief. The warning here is to remain vigilant against allowing the essence of spirituality to be overshadowed by mere ceremonial repetition.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of adapting traditions, one could reference Eliot's insight on ritual.
There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
For I have known them all already, known them allβ Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.
The true philosopher and the true poet are one,_x000D_ and a beauty, which is truth,_x000D_ and a truth, which is beauty,_x000D_ is the aim of both.
PHYSIOGNOMY, n. The art of determining the character of another by the resemblances and differences between his face and our own, which is the standard of excellence.
When the Englishman speaks of national wealth he means the number of millionaires in the country.
Anything that is western origin, first you verify it, then accept it. Anything that is Indian origin, first accept it, then verify it if necessary.
The world without spirit is a wasteland. People have the notion of saving the world by shifting things around, changing the rules, and who's on top, and so forth. No, no! Any world is a valid world if it's alive. The thing to do is to bring life to it, and the only way to do that is to find in your own case where the life is and become alive yourself.
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