--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim…" description: "\"(Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim fraternity, passing grim lives in that sweet spot, that God had made so bright! Strange that Nature's voices ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/jerome-k-jerome-1155_fraternity_speaking-of-the-cistercian-monks-a-grim_1391956.jpg" --- # (Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim fraternity… ![“(Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim fraternity, passing grim lives in that sweet spot, that God had made so bright! Strange that Nature's voices all around them--the soft singing of the waters, the wisperings of the river grass, the music of the rushing wind--should not have taught them a…” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/jerome-k-jerome-1155_fraternity_speaking-of-the-cistercian-monks-a-grim_1391956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/jerome-k-jerome-1155_fraternity_speaking-of-the-cistercian-monks-a-grim_1391956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abc/jerome-k-jerome-1155_fraternity_speaking-of-the-cistercian-monks-a-grim_1391956.jpg) > “(Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim fraternity, passing grim lives in that sweet spot, that God had made so bright! Strange that Nature's voices all around them--the soft singing of the waters, the wisperings of the river grass, the music of the rushing wind--should not have taught them a truer meaning of life than this. They listened there, through the long days, in silence, waiting for a voice from heaven; and all day long and through the solemn night it spoke to them in myriad tones, and they heard it not.” [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The monks live in a beautiful setting yet remain spiritually deaf, missing deeper meaning despite nature’s guidance. **In simple terms:** Monks ignore nature’s lessons. Key Takeaway Seek deeper awareness beyond surroundings. Themes spirituality nature ignorance Mood contemplative melancholic Type literary reflective When to use this quote - monastic life - personal growth - environmental appreciation - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - Do you overlook lessons in your surroundings? - How can silence become a teacher? A Different Perspective Nature alone cannot guarantee insight without inner attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cistercian Monks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cistercian-monks-4854113/) [Fraternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraternity/) [Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grass/) [Grim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grim/) [Grim Fraternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grim-fraternity-4854112/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-day/) [Long Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-days/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [Monks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monks/) [Monks Grim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monks-grim-4854110/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passings/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Rushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rushing/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Speaking Cistercian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-cistercian-4854111/) [Spokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spokes/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweet/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [“Strange that Nature’s voices all around them — the soft singing of the waters, the whisperings of the river grass, the music of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/strange-that-nature-s-voices-all-around-them-the-soft-singing-of-the/) [Jerome K. 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Jerome > [“George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/george-goes-to-sleep-at-a-bank-from-ten-to-four-each-day-except/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-would-use-a-bit-of-string-this-time-and-at-the-critical-moment/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. 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Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There was no ground-floor — its ground-floor belonged to a house in the next court, and the front door opened direct upon a flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-was-no-ground-floor-its-ground-floor-belonged-to-a-house-in-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [ They \[dogs\] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-but-listen-to-you-while-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“The only feeling that a closer intimacy has created in him for his wife is that of indulgent contempt. As there is no equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/the-only-feeling-that-a-closer-intimacy-has-created-in-him-for-his/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Life will always remain a gamble, with prizes sometimes for the imprudent, and blanks so often to the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/life-will-always-remain-a-gamble-with-prizes-sometimes-for-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) [Explore all 267 Jerome K. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More Fraternity quotes > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [I would say my fraternity was nothing but a bunch of farm boys; we weren't really in the whole fraternity scene, but yeah, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-would-say-my-fraternity-was-nothing-but-a-bunch-of-farm-boys-we/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [The French Revolution gave us three... powerful ideas, or concepts - liberty, equality and fraternity. 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This protection of all is termed Fraternity. The point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/common-right-is-nought-but-the-protection-of-all-radiating-over-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [One little secret of the guys who have won one slam, is that we don't want other guys to win one because its like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/one-little-secret-of-the-guys-who-have-won-one-slam-is-that-we-don-t/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I imagine that one of the biggest troubles with colleges is there are too many distractions, too much panty-raiding, fraternities, and boola-boola and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-imagine-that-one-of-the-biggest-troubles-with-colleges-is-there-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [For me certainly Earl Campbell and Tony Dorsett come to mind, and Roger Staubach. 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This has proved disastrous for the music fraternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/in-india-most-people-are-not-aware-or-are-unconcerned-about-copyright/) [Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/) > [Knuckleball pitching is a very small fraternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wakefield/knuckleball-pitching-is-a-very-small-fraternity/) [Tim Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wakefield/) > [Doing a reality show is like being in a fraternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-kreischer/doing-a-reality-show-is-like-being-in-a-fraternity/) [Bert Kreischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-kreischer/) > [“Brothers and sisters we are like one thing,like a soil filled with specialities such as caring and fraternity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-fenyane/brothers-and-sisters-we-are-like-one-thing-like-a-soil-filled-with/) [Lucas fenyane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-fenyane/) [Browse all 236 Fraternity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraternity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "(Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim fraternity, passing grim lives in that sweet spot, that God had made so bright! 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