The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits;- on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Matthew ArnoldRead
Not a having and a resting, but a growing and becoming, is the character of perfection as culture conceives it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Perfection is not about achieving a static state, but about continuous growth and development.
This quote by Matthew Arnold emphasizes that true perfection is not merely a destination to reach or a status to attain, but rather an ongoing process of growth and transformation. It suggests that culture perceives perfection as something dynamic, where individuals are always evolving and striving to become better versions of themselves, rather than simply resting on their laurels once they achieve a certain level of success or mastery.
Themes
PerfectionGrowthDevelopmentCultureBecoming
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can inspire students during a graduation speech, emphasizing lifelong learning.
More from Matthew Arnold
All quotes βAnd each day brings it's pretty dust, Our soon-choked souls to fll And we forget because we must, And not because we will.
Matthew ArnoldRead
It is almost impossible to exaggerate the proneness of the human mind to take miracles as evidence, and to seek for miracles as evidence.
Matthew ArnoldRead
To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive.
Matthew ArnoldRead
Nature, with equal mind, Sees all her sons at play, Sees man control the wind, The wind sweep man away.
Matthew ArnoldRead
Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit.
Matthew ArnoldRead
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But it is a blessed provision of nature that at times like these, as soon as a man's mercury has got down to a certain point there comes a revulsion, and he rallies. Hope springs up, and cheerfulness along with it, and then he is in good shape to do something for himself, if anything can be done.
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In my years, I have seen that people must be their own gods and make their own good fortune. The bad will come or not come anyway.
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Depression can kill you. It can also be a spiritually enriching experience. It's really an important part of my theology now and my spirituality that life is not perfect, and I grew up wanting it to be and thinking that if it wasn't, I could make it that way, and I had to acknowledge that I had all kinds of flaws and sadnesses and problems.
Krista TippettRead