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I am willing to admit that some people might live there…

“I am willing to admit that some people might live there for years, or even a lifetime, so protected that they never sense the sweet stench of corruption that is all around them - the keen, thin scent of decay that pervades everything and accuses with a terrible accusation the superficial…” quote by Thomas Merton
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“I am willing to admit that some people might live there for years, or even a lifetime, so protected that they never sense the sweet stench of corruption that is all around them - the keen, thin scent of decay that pervades everything and accuses with a terrible accusation the superficial youthfulness, the abounding undergraduate noise, that fills those ancient buildings.”

Thomas Merton

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote warns that long‑term comfort can blind people to pervasive moral decay surrounding them.

In simple terms: Comfort can hide corruption.

Key Takeaway

Stay vigilant against hidden decay.

Themes

morality awareness comfort corruption youth

Mood

reflective somber

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • academic life
  • corporate culture
  • urban development
  • personal relationships

Key Concepts

existentialism social critique ethical blindness

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you overlook decay in familiar settings?
  • How can you cultivate awareness without cynicism?
A Different Perspective

Blindness can be self‑imposed, not just external.

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