We have before us the fiendishness of business competition and the world war, passion and wrongdoing, antagonism between classes and moral depravity within them, economic tyranny above and the slave spirit below.
Karl BarthRead
The Spirit bears witness. Ecstasy and enlightenment, inspiration and intuition are not necessary. Happy is the man who is worthy of these; but woe unto us if we wait for such experiences; woe unto us if we do not perceive that these things are of secondary importance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while profound experiences are valuable, they should not be the sole focus of life.
Karl Barth emphasizes that while moments of ecstasy, enlightenment, inspiration, and intuition can enrich our lives, they should not be regarded as essential. Instead, it is vital to recognize that these experiences are secondary; a person's worthiness of them is not just about waiting for extraordinary moments but about perceiving the deeper values in life itself. A focus on the ordinary and a credible engagement with life will yield greater happiness than merely seeking fleeting highs.
Themes
SpiritExperienceHappinessPerceptionValue
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a motivational speech to encourage self-reliance and appreciation of everyday life.
More from Karl Barth
All quotes →When we speak of our virtues we are competitors, when we confess our sins we become brothers.
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Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life.
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That the zeal for God's honor is also a dangerous passion, that the Christian must bring with him the courage to swim against the tide instead of with it... accept a good deal of loneliness, will perhaps be nowhere so clear and palpable as in the church, where he would so much like things to be different. Yet he cannot and he will not refuse to take this risk and pay this price... he belongs where the reformation of the church is underway or will again be underway.
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In the Church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians.
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Christian worship is the most momentous, most urgent, most glorious action that can take place in human life.
Karl BarthRead
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