--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: T. S. Eliot’s words ring true: “They…" description: "\"“T. S. Eliot’s words ring true: “They constantly try to escape / From the darkness outside and within / By dreaming of systems so perfect that no one w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/julian-carron-85239_benedict-xvi_t-s-eliot-s-words-ring-true-they-constan_2439216.jpg" --- # T. S. Eliot’s words ring true: “They constantly try to… ![“T. S. Eliot’s words ring true: “They constantly try to escape / From the darkness outside and within / By dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good.”19 This applies to one group as much as the other. But the attempt to resolve human questions with procedures will never be…” quote by Julian Carron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/julian-carron-85239_benedict-xvi_t-s-eliot-s-words-ring-true-they-constan_2439216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/julian-carron-85239_benedict-xvi_t-s-eliot-s-words-ring-true-they-constan_2439216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c7/julian-carron-85239_benedict-xvi_t-s-eliot-s-words-ring-true-they-constan_2439216.jpg) > ““T. S. Eliot’s words ring true: “They constantly try to escape / From the darkness outside and within / By dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good.”19 This applies to one group as much as the other. But the attempt to resolve human questions with procedures will never be sufficient. Again it is Benedict XVI who says it best: “Since man always remains free and since his freedom is always fragile, the kingdom of good will never be definitively established in this world. Anyone who promises the better world that is guaranteed to last forever is making a false promise; he is overlooking human freedom.” Rather, “If there were structures which could irrevocably guarantee a determined—good—state of the world, man’s freedom would be denied, and hence they would not be good structures at all…. In other words: good structures help, but of themselves they are not enough. Man can never be redeemed simply from outside.”20”” [Julian Carron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-carron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempts to solve human moral dilemmas solely through perfect systems ignore the essential role of free will and personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** Good systems alone cannot guarantee moral goodness; freedom matters. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of systems; value human freedom. Themes freedom morality systems humanity redemption Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical theological inspirational When to use this quote - political policy - organizational design - education - personal decision-making - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance structure with freedom? - What responsibilities arise when systems fail? A Different Perspective Systems cannot replace personal moral agency and may suppress freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benedict xvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benedict-xvi/) [Better world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) [Eliot Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eliot-words-471389/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-fragile-328067/) [Freedom Structures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-structures-471387/) [Human freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-freedom/) [Last forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-forever/) [World Promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-promises-471388/) ## Related quotes > [Our Founders were not naive simpletons. They understood that human freedom is a fragile thing, that 'eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/our-founders-were-not-naive-simpletons-they-understood-that-human/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [“Since man always remains free and since his freedom is always fragile, the kingdom of good will never be definitively established in this world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/since-man-always-remains-free-and-since-his-freedom-is-always-fragile/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Every objet in the world promises satisfaction, but it never gives satisfaction -it only promises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishnananda-saraswati/every-objet-in-the-world-promises-satisfaction-but-it-never-gives/) [Krishnananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishnananda-saraswati/) > [“The world promises things that are temporal and small, and it is served with great eagerness. 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It’s the sound of your voice, without anyone drowning you out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/freedom-is-the-fragile-neck-of-a-daffodil-after-the-longest-of/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [It is a rare man who can prevail in the face of comfort. Freedom is fragile and elusive, for rarely does the appreciation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-rossio/it-is-a-rare-man-who-can-prevail-in-the-face-of-comfort-freedom-is/) [Terry Rossio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-rossio/) > [“Freedom is fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/freedom-is-fragile/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Freedom is like holding a small bird. If you squeeze it too hard, you will kill it. 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To sacrifice it, even as a temporary measure, is to betray it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/freedom-is-fragile-and-must-be-protected-to-sacrifice-it-even-as-a/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [“As President Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation from extinction. It is not ours by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-winters/as-president-reagan-once-said-freedom-is-a-fragile-thing-and-is-never/) [Larry Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-winters/) > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. They're not deviant. They're deviant only if you say that anyone who is different from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/benedict-xvi-kept-saying-that-homosexuals-are-deviant-they-re-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## More by Julian Carron > [“This is nothing more than the application of a universal law, a law in effect since the time human beings were human beings: “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-carron/this-is-nothing-more-than-the-application-of-a-universal-law-a-law-in/) [Julian Carron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-carron/) > [“... helping each other to have a true gaze on reality, on the circumstances we are living in, is the first gesture of friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-carron/helping-each-other-to-have-a-true-gaze-on-reality-on-the/) [Julian Carron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-carron/) [Explore all 3 Julian Carron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-carron/) ## More Benedict xvi quotes > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. 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