Books Quote by Paul Quarrington
““I had another reason for seeking Him, for trying to espy His face, a professional one. God and literature are conflated in my mind. Why this is, I’m not sure. Perhaps because great books seem heavensent. Perhaps because I know that each nove is a puny but very valiant attempt at godlike behavior. Perhaps because there is no difference between the finest poetry and most transcendent mysticism. Perhaps because writers like Thomas Merton, who are able to enter the realm of the spirit and come away with fine, lucid prose. Perhaps because of more secular writers, like John Steinbeck, whose every passage, it seems to me, peals with religiousity and faith. It once occured to me that literature — all art really — is either talking to people about God, or talking to God about people.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Personal Reflections on Literature and Faith, 1995
He explores why literature feels divine, seeing poetry and mysticism as intertwined, and how writers bridge human experience with the spiritual.
In simple terms: Literature feels like a spiritual quest linking poetry and faith.
Key Takeaway
Seek depth in reading and writing.
Themes
faith
literature
creativity
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- reading classic novels
- writing poetry
- studying mystic texts
- discussing literature in book clubs
Key Concepts
divine inspiration
human experience
artistic purpose
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a work feel transcendent?
- Can secular stories convey spiritual truth?
A Different Perspective
Not all readers perceive literature as spiritual; some view it purely as entertainment.
