I know a man who, when he saw a woman of striking beauty, praised the Creator for her. The sight of her lit within him the love of God.
John ClimacusRead
Someone who is elated with wine speaks the truth on all subjects, even without meaning to. In the same way, anyone who is inebriated with the spirit of penitence will never be able to tell lies.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that intoxication, whether from wine or spiritual reflection, reveals one's true thoughts and feelings.
John Climacus implies that just as the inebriated state caused by wine leads to unfiltered honesty, a sincere and repentant heart leads to truthfulness. This reflects on the nature of human honesty and how external and internal states can influence one's expression of truth.
Themes
TruthHonestyInebriationRepentanceSincerity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about honesty, you might refer to this quote to illustrate how vulnerability can lead to truth.
More from John Climacus
All quotes →The first stage of this tranquility consists in silencing the lips when the heart is excited. The second, in silencing the mind when the soul is still excited. The goal is a perfect peacefulness even in the middle of the raging storm.
John ClimacusRead
God belongs to all free beings. He is the life of all, the salvation of all ~faithful and unfaithful, just and unjust, pious and impious, passionate and dispassionate, monks and laymen, wise and simple, healthy and sick, young and old just as the effusion of light, the sight of the sun, and the changes of the seasons are for all alike; 'for there is no respect of persons with God.'
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Obedience is the burial of the will and the resurrection of humility.
John ClimacusRead
The slave of the belly ponders the menu with which to celebrate the feast. The servant of God, however, thinks of the graces that may enrich him.
John ClimacusRead
Ascend, my brothers, ascend eagerly. Let your hearts' resolve be to climb. Listen to the voice of the one who says: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of our God' (Isa. 2:3), Who makes our feet to be like the feet of the deer, 'Who sets us on the high places, that we may be triumphant on His road' (Hab. 3:19).
John ClimacusRead
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