The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Our wise old church...has discovered that if you will act as if you believed belief will be given to you; if you pray with doubt, but pray with sincerity, your doubt will be dispelled; if you will surrender yourself to the beauty of that liturgy the power of which over the human spirit has been proved by the experience of the ages, peace will descend upon you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Belief and sincerity can dispel doubt and bring peace.
This quote by W. Somerset Maugham emphasizes the power of belief and sincerity in overcoming doubts and achieving inner peace. It suggests that by acting as though one holds a belief, even in the face of uncertainty, and by sincerely engaging in practices that uplift one’s spirit, individuals can transform their experience and find solace forged through ancient wisdom and communal practices.
Themes
BeliefSincerityPeaceDoubtLiturgy
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon, a pastor might use this quote to encourage congregants to approach their faith with a sincere heart.
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