Anxiety Quote by Evelyn Underhill
““True contemplation can only thrive when defended from two opposite exaggerations: quietism on the one hand, and spiritual fuss upon the other. Neither from passivity nor from anxiety has it anything to gain.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Mysticism, Evelyn Underhill, 1911
True contemplation requires balance, avoiding both passive quietism and anxious spiritual activity.
In simple terms: Avoid extremes in spiritual practice.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate balanced meditation.
Themes
spirituality
balance
contemplation
Mood
calm
focused
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- mindfulness retreats
- study groups
Key Concepts
mysticism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What habits push you toward passivity?
- How do you detect spiritual anxiety?
A Different Perspective
Over‑balancing can lead to complacency or anxiety.
![“[T]he mere existence of others who have radically different beliefs about the nature of reality poses an explicit challenge to the claims of absolute truth made on behalf of one’s own point of view, thus undermining the anxiety-buffering capacity of that world view.” quote by Sheldon Solomon Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczyinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d72/sheldon-solomon-jeff-greenberg_absolute-truth_t-he-mere-existence-of-others-who-have-r_1605255.jpg)
