Beatitude Quote by Étienne Gilson
““When man subverted order he did a great deal more than merely fall away from the rationality of his nature, diminish his own humanity, which is all that he does in Aristostle's ethics, nor he did merely compromise his destiny by an error, as it happens in the Plathonic myths; he brought disorder into the divine order, and presents the unhappy spectacle of a being in revolt against Being. [...] Every time a man sins he renews this act of revolt and prefers himself to God; in thus preferring himself, he separates himself from God; and in separating himself, he deprives himself of the sole end in which he can find beatitude and by that very fact condemns himself to misery.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Metaphysics of the Christian Faith, 1935
Human rebellion against divine order erodes humanity and leads to misery, separating one from ultimate purpose.
In simple terms: Rebelling against divine order harms humanity and causes misery.
Key Takeaway
Avoid rebellion; align with higher purpose.
Themes
theity
human nature
purpose
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- Moral reflection
- spiritual counseling
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
Divine order
beatitude
self‑separation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does aligning with a higher purpose mean to you?
- How can one reconcile personal autonomy with divine order?
A Different Perspective
Rebellion may stem from legitimate grievances; not all dissent is destructive.
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