---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A disorderly spirituality that makes the…"
description: "\"“A disorderly spirituality that makes the practitioner dreamy, eccentric, or uncontrolled is a very bad sign indeed. In”\" — Karen Armstrong"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg"
---

#  A disorderly spirituality that makes the practitioner…

![“A disorderly spirituality that makes the practitioner dreamy, eccentric, or uncontrolled is a very bad sign indeed. In” quote by Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg)

> ““A disorderly spirituality that makes the practitioner dreamy, eccentric, or uncontrolled is a very bad sign indeed. In””

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Spiritual practices that lead to disorientation or excess are warning signs of imbalance.

**In simple terms:** Unbalanced spirituality is harmful.

Key Takeaway

Seek grounded practice.

Themes

spirituality balance well‑being

Mood

reflective cautious thoughtful

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- meditation
- yoga
- daily reflection
- therapy
- community groups

Key Concepts

mindfulness self‑discipline inner peace

Questions to Reflect On

- What practices keep you grounded?
- How do you balance mysticism with daily life?

A Different Perspective

Over‑emphasis on mysticism can neglect practical responsibilities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Disorderly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorderly-880156/) [Disorderly Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorderly-spirituality-5948123/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Eccentric Uncontrolled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentric-uncontrolled-5948125/) [Practitioner Dreamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practitioner-dreamy-5948124/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Uncontrolled Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncontrolled-bad-5948126/)

## Related quotes

> [When we have disorderly lives, it makes it difficult for our minds to be orderly and for us to be at ease with disorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/when-we-have-disorderly-lives-it-makes-it-difficult-for-our-minds-to/)

[Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/)

> [One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/one-of-the-advantages-of-being-disorderly-is-that-one-is-constantly/)

[A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/)

> [I believe my soul isn't entirely German because my home is so disorderly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-believe-my-soul-isn-t-entirely-german-because-my-home-is-so/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [A disorderly mob is no more an army than a heap of building materials is a house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/a-disorderly-mob-is-no-more-an-army-than-a-heap-of-building-materials/)

[Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/)

> [“One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/one-advantage-of-being-disorderly-is-that-one-is-constantly-making/)

[A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/)

> [When God is made the master of a family, he disorders the disorderly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/when-god-is-made-the-master-of-a-family-he-disorders-the-disorderly/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [I guess my life was in a pretty disorderly fashion, so I think the music came out that way a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sune-rose-wagner/i-guess-my-life-was-in-a-pretty-disorderly-fashion-so-i-think-the/)

[Sune Rose Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sune-rose-wagner/)

> [“We have deficited upon their attention in the most disorderly fashion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/we-have-deficited-upon-their-attention-in-the-most-disorderly-fashion/)

[Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/)

> [“You're never alone if you're with your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-armond-powell/you-re-never-alone-if-you-re-with-your-soul/)

[Gerard Armond Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-armond-powell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/)

[Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/)

> [“As I do not seem able much to heal, then maybe I can simply be a responsible witness to the miracle of the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/as-i-do-not-seem-able-much-to-heal-then-maybe-i-can-simply-be-a/)

[Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

## More by Karen Armstrong

> [If it is written and read with serious attention, a novel, like a myth or any great work of art, can become an initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-it-is-written-and-read-with-serious-attention-a-novel-like-a-myth/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [A gentleman is not born but crafted. He had to work on himself in the same way as a sculptor shaped a rough stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-gentleman-is-not-born-but-crafted-he-had-to-work-on-himself-in-the/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [I was a lousy nun. I couldn't do it. I couldn't find God. It wasn't suitable for me. It is suitable for very few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-was-a-lousy-nun-i-couldn-t-do-it-i-couldn-t-find-god-it-wasn-t/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [I have become convinced, through my studies, that the only way to achieve a safe, just and viable world is to live by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-have-become-convinced-through-my-studies-that-the-only-way-to/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [In the past some of the most influential Jewish, Christian and Muslim theologians, such as Maimonides, Aquinas and Ibn Sina, made it clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/in-the-past-some-of-the-most-influential-jewish-christian-and-muslim/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [The great task of our time is to build a global society, where people can live together in peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/the-great-task-of-our-time-is-to-build-a-global-society-where-people/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [If we don't manage to implement the Golden Rule globally, so that we treat all peoples, wherever and whoever they may be, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-we-don-t-manage-to-implement-the-golden-rule-globally-so-that-we/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [After I left the convent, for 15 years I was worn out with religion, I wanted nothing whatever to do with it. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/after-i-left-the-convent-for-15-years-i-was-worn-out-with-religion-i/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [“As we have seen, so many of the things we once took for granted have proved unreliable that we may have to “forget” old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/as-we-have-seen-so-many-of-the-things-we-once-took-for-granted-have/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [Yet a personal God can become a grave liability. He can be a mere idol carved in our own image, a projection of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/yet-a-personal-god-can-become-a-grave-liability-he-can-be-a-mere-idol/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [“I discovered that I felt at home and alive in the silence, which compelled me to enter my interior world and around there. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-discovered-that-i-felt-at-home-and-alive-in-the-silence-which/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [Each of the world religions has its own particular genius, its own special insight into the nature and requirements of compassion, and has something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/each-of-the-world-religions-has-its-own-particular-genius-its-own/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [“all rightly guided religion that submitted wholly to God, refused to worship man-made deities and preached that justice and equality came from the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/all-rightly-guided-religion-that-submitted-wholly-to-god-refused-to/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [“advocates of evolutionary theory since Thomas H. Huxley (1825–95) have found altruism problematic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/advocates-of-evolutionary-theory-since-thomas-h-huxley-1825-95-have/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

[Explore all 296 Karen Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

## More Dreams quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/)

[Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/)

> [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/)

[Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/)

[Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/)

[Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“A disorderly spirituality that makes the practitioner dreamy, eccentric, or uncontrolled is a very bad sign indeed. In”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Karen Armstrong"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the-practitioner-dreamy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dreams"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the-practitioner-dreamy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/karen-armstrong-1053_dreams_a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the_3202030.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A disorderly spirituality that makes the practitioner dreamy, eccentric, or uncontrolled is a very bad sign…” — Karen Armstrong",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Karen Armstrong",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A disorderly spirituality that makes the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the-practitioner-dreamy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-disorderly-spirituality-that-makes-the-practitioner-dreamy/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
