Able Quote by David Bentley Hart
“Either the material order is the whole of being, wherein all transcendence is an illusion, or it is the phenomenal surface - mysterious, beautiful, terrible, harsh, and haunting - of a world of living spirits… One should... be able to recognize that it is only the latter view that has ever had the power - over centuries and in every realm of human accomplishment - to summon desire beyond the boring limits marked by mortality, to endow the will with constancy and purpose, and to shape imagination towards ends that should not be possible within the narrow economies of the flesh.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Beauty of the Infinite by David Bentley Hart, 2003
The quote contrasts a materialist view that sees existence as mere physical order with a spiritual view that perceives the world as a mysterious, beautiful, and haunting realm of living spirits, arguing that the latter inspires purpose and imagination beyond mortal limits.
In simple terms: Materialism limits meaning; spiritual view expands purpose.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the spiritual perspective to find deeper purpose.
Themes
purpose
meaning
spirituality
imagination
transcendence
Mood
reflective
inspirational
philosophical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- scientific research
- personal growth
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
metaphysics
existentialism
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing a spiritual dimension affect your daily choices?
- Can purpose be found without a spiritual framework?
A Different Perspective
The spiritual view may be seen as subjective and not universally convincing.
