Contemplative Quotes

103 quotes by 81 authors

Mathematics as an expression of the human mind reflects the active will, the contemplative reason, and the desire for aesthetic perfection. Its basic elements are… — Richard Courant
I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my province. — Francis Bacon
Fishing has been styled 'a contemplative man's recreation,' ... and science is only a more contemplative man's recreation. — Henry David Thoreau
The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of the philosopher, and shuts up the mouth of the foolish; it generates a style of conversation, contemplative,… — William Makepeace Thackeray
Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep inexpressible certitude of… — Thomas Merton
Meditative state is the highest state of existence. So long as there is desire, no real happiness can come. It is only the contemplative, witness-like… — Swami Vivekananda
Happiness lies in virtuous activity, and perfect happiness lies in the best activity, which is contemplative — Aristotle
On the Left, on the Right, in the Middle; Authors, statesmen, thieves; so-called humanists and self-declared fascists; the adventurous and the contemplative, in every realm… — Andrea Dworkin
One of the first things to learn if you want to be a contemplative is to mind your own business. Nothing is more suspicious, in… — Thomas Merton
Since I was introduced to the practice of God's presence, which in turn led me into the contemplative way, I have nearly always felt so… — Brian D. McLaren
Contemplative and bookish men must of necessity be more quarrelsome than others, because they contend not about matter of fact, nor can determine their controversies… — John Donne
I guess when we're happy, it's easier to go with the flow, and when that happiness or joy is interrupted, that's when we get contemplative… — Unknown Author
The more contemplative gardener, seeing the garden as a whole, the design of it, and its nature as a still place of delight and refreshment,… — Susan Hill
Before, I just spewed whatever it was I thought about everything. I tend to be more contemplative now — Anne Heche
Each person comes to have this musical experience, this moment with us, where they get to sink into our world for a little while. Itâ€™s… — Gillian Welch
Bassist Steve Uccello's Symmetria is filled with cool and unique sounds, textures, and musical ideas, evoking an imagined atmosphere of open spaces influenced by Ry… — Bryan Beller
The national distrust of the contemplative temperament arises less from an innate Philistinism than from a suspicion of anything that cannot be counted, stuffed, framed… — Lewis H. Lapham
Since art is a virtue of the intellect, it demands to communicate with the entire universe of the intellect. Hence it is that the normal… — Jacques Maritain
So in this case, Kalamas, don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through… — Gautama Buddha
I admire people who are suited to the contemplative life. They can sit inside themselves like honey in a jar and just be. It's wonderful… — Elizabeth Janeway

Who Wrote These Contemplative Quotes

81 authors contributed a total of 103 Contemplative Quotes, led by these top contributors: