I have sought earnestly and with great diligence that good…
“I have sought earnestly and with great diligence that good and high virtue by which man may draw closest to God... and as far as my intelligence would permit, I find that high virtue to be pure disinterest, that is, detachment from creatures. Our Lord said to Martha 'Unum est necessarium', which is to say; to be untroubled and pure, one thing is necessary and that is disinterest.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: The Book of Divine Consolation, early 14th century
True virtue is pure disinterest, a detachment from worldly creatures, leading to an untroubled, singular focus on the divine.
In simple terms: Virtue means letting go of attachments to find peace with God.
Key Takeaway
Practice detachment to deepen spiritual focus.
Themes
virtue
detachment
spirituality
purity
focus
Mood
contemplative
serene
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- monastic life
- personal meditation
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
mysticism
theology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does one balance detachment with compassion?
- What practices foster healthy disinterest?
A Different Perspective
Detachment can be misinterpreted as indifference to others.