Idleness Quote by Dorothee Soelle
““In the Middle Ages, spiritual advisors always warned against a state that had a variety of names but was difficult to describe: inertia, ill pleasure (acedia), nausea, laziness (pigrita), dullness (tarditas). All these terms pointed to a joyless, antimystical condition: an idleness that can be highly busy, a nauseousness with life that has learned the morbid art of seeing only decay and destruction in everything, a laziness of life that makes us too sluggish to look for God's radiance in creation or to make it shine again. Not to he able to cry and to rejoice, to curse and to pray, were regarded at that time as an ill-fortune and disturbance.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Spiritual Life of the Middle Ages, 1990
Medieval writers described a state of spiritual inertia and joylessness, where people feel numb, busy yet empty, unable to experience divine radiance.
In simple terms: Describes spiritual numbness and lack of joy.
Key Takeaway
Seek active, joyful faith.
Themes
spiritual stagnation
joylessness
acedia
faith
meaninglessness
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- religious practice
- mental health
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
historical concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize spiritual inertia?
- What practices restore joy?
A Different Perspective
Modern life can also breed similar emptiness.
