She felt that she would have to be much more than just a doctor or an engineer. She would have to be a saint.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the need for individuals to embody higher ideals beyond their professional roles.
Flannery O'Connor's quote reflects the understanding that certain professions, like being a doctor or engineer, carry significant moral and ethical responsibilities. It suggests that truly excelling in such roles requires a compassionate and selfless nature, akin to that of a saint, indicating the importance of integrity and empathy in one's work.
In practice
During a graduation speech to inspire students entering the medical field.
Let me make no bones about it: I write from the standpoint of Christian orthodoxy. Nothing is more repulsive to me than the idea of myself setting up a little universe of my own choosing and propounding a little immoralistic message. I write with a solid belief in all the Christian dogmas.
What people donβt realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.
If you live today, you breath in nihilism ... it's the gas you breathe. If I hadn't had the Church to fight it with or to tell me the necessity of fighting it, I would be the stinkingest logical positivist you ever saw right now.
There won't be any biographies of me because, for only one reason, lives spent between the house and the chicken yard do not make exciting copy.
Knowing who you are is good for one generation only. You haven't the foggiest idea where you stand now or who you are
He loved her because it was his nature to do so, but there were times when he could not endure her love for him. There were times when it became nothing but pure idiot mystery.
One thing about flying that he never got used to was that no matter how awful the weather was on the ground, if you flew high enough you could always find the sun.
Dream tonight of peacock tails, Diamond fields and spouter whales. Ills are many, blessing few, But dreams tonight will shelter you.
The greatest genius will not be worth much if he pretends to draw exclusively from his own resources
Being infinitely patient means having an absolute knowing that you're in vibrational harmony with the all-creating force that intended you here. You know that everything will happen at just the right time, at just the right place, with just the right people.
Talking much is a sign of vanity, for the one who is lavish with words is cheap in deeds.
It is the greatest of all advantages to enjoy no advantage at all.
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