---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth…"
description: "\"“Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth we all exist in our own sanctuaries-but I don't mean cathedrals or prisons. I'm talking about our hearts and..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg"
---

#  Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth we all exist in…

![“Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth we all exist in our own sanctuaries-but I don't mean cathedrals or prisons. I'm talking about our hearts and minds, which imprison us in anxiety, dear, insecurity, anger and other forms of misery. The walls &amp; bars that keep most in a constant state of…” quote by Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg)

> ““Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth we all exist in our own sanctuaries-but I don't mean cathedrals or prisons. I'm talking about our hearts and minds, which imprison us in anxiety, dear, insecurity, anger and other forms of misery. The walls &amp; bars that keep most in a constant state of suffering are thoughts and emotions, not concrete &amp; steel. It's a disease. Insanity. Most are afflicted by it, regardless of which side of the law they find themselves on or where they lay their heads at night. To be free of this, Renee, is to be free indeed.””

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote likens personal mental and emotional turmoil to a prison, suggesting that thoughts and feelings trap us in suffering, and true freedom comes from liberating the mind and heart.

**In simple terms:** Mental confinement is self‑imposed.

Key Takeaway

Freedom is internal, not external.

Themes

psychology freedom suffering self‑awareness mental health

Mood

reflective somber hopeful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- self‑help workshops
- mindfulness retreats
- personal crises
- legal contexts

Key Concepts

thoughts emotions anxiety inner prison

Practical Applications

- psychotherapy
- mindfulness training

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you identify the 'walls' that imprison you?
- What practices help dissolve mental barriers?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Basil Sanctuary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basil-sanctuary-391376/) [Imprison Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imprison-anxiety-391378/) [Minds Imprison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds-imprison-391379/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sanctuary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctuary/) [Sanctuary Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctuary-truth-391377/) [Thoughts and emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-emotions/) [Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [Most animals are like the unfortunate Gregor Samsa after metamorphosis. They are Kafka-creatures, organisms with rich thoughts and emotions but no system for translating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-hauser/most-animals-are-like-the-unfortunate-gregor-samsa-after/)

[Marc Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-hauser/)

> [When faced with conflicting thoughts and emotions, we must decide what to trust, what we fear, or what we know. What's important is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/when-faced-with-conflicting-thoughts-and-emotions-we-must-decide-what/)

[Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/)

> [“When we attempt to isolate ourselves and shield our experiences, thoughts, and emotions from others, we limit our growth and expansion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-michler/when-we-attempt-to-isolate-ourselves-and-shield-our-experiences/)

[Ryan Michler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-michler/)

> [In film you can use images exclusively and narrate a whole story very quickly, but you don't always so easily find the form in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-esquivel/in-film-you-can-use-images-exclusively-and-narrate-a-whole-story-very/)

[Laura Esquivel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-esquivel/)

> [What good are thoughts and emotions-in fact all of our experiences-if not to increase our realization?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/what-good-are-thoughts-and-emotions-in-fact-all-of-our-experiences-if/)

[Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/)

> [The brain is a complex biological organ possessing immense computational capability: it constructs our sensory experience, regulates our thoughts and emotions, and controls our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/the-brain-is-a-complex-biological-organ-possessing-immense/)

[Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/)

> [Prophets, mystics, poets, scientific discoverers are men whose lives are dominated by a vision; they are essentially solitary men . . . whose thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/prophets-mystics-poets-scientific-discoverers-are-men-whose-lives-are/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [“Picture the mind like a waterfall, they said: the water is the torrent of thoughts and emotions; mindfulness is the space behind the waterfall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/picture-the-mind-like-a-waterfall-they-said-the-water-is-the-torrent/)

[Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/)

> [The most important benefit of patience consists in the way it acts as a powerful antidote to the affliction of anger - the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-most-important-benefit-of-patience-consists-in-the-way-it-acts-as/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“To be a pioneer of your own life, living an existence that has purpose and meaning you must first remove the past baggage that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/to-be-a-pioneer-of-your-own-life-living-an-existence-that-has-purpose/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

> [“LEARNING HOW to be kind to ourselves is important. When we look into our own hearts and begin to discover what is confused and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/learning-how-to-be-kind-to-ourselves-is-important-when-we-look-into/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“What shows up in our lives is a direct reflection of our inner thoughts and emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grout/what-shows-up-in-our-lives-is-a-direct-reflection-of-our-inner/)

[Pam Grout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grout/)

> [By far the greater part of violence that humans inflicted on each other is not the work of criminals or mentally deranged, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/by-far-the-greater-part-of-violence-that-humans-inflicted-on-each/)

[Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/)

> [When I got to write for the 'Battlefield' record, it was almost therapeutic. I had gone through a few things in the two years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/when-i-got-to-write-for-the-battlefield-record-it-was-almost/)

[Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/)

> [The kind of happiness that stays with you is the happiness that springs from inward thoughts and emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-phelps/the-kind-of-happiness-that-stays-with-you-is-the-happiness-that/)

[William Lyon Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-phelps/)

## More by Ted Dekker

> [Grow up? Get herself straightened out? Her mind reeled from the verbal battering. No matter what she did, her father would tell her she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/grow-up-get-herself-straightened-out-her-mind-reeled-from-the-verbal/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [And does man simply choose evil, or does he create it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/and-does-man-simply-choose-evil-or-does-he-create-it/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [Who’s to say that it takes something like a drug to mess with your perception of reality? How did Hitler deceive a nation? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/who-s-to-say-that-it-takes-something-like-a-drug-to-mess-with-your/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“doing good required taking risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/doing-good-required-taking-risks/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“The physical power of real love is staggering, because real forgiveness is staggering...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/the-physical-power-of-real-love-is-staggering-because-real/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“The only barrier to apprehending the truth is our own unwillingness to see the world as it is instead of how we prefer it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/the-only-barrier-to-apprehending-the-truth-is-our-own-unwillingness/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [What is pure Bill? Or excellent or admirable? The death of a million people in a flood? God evidently through so. He is incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/what-is-pure-bill-or-excellent-or-admirable-the-death-of-a-million/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [It's critical that we use a very dark brush to paint evil. When you bring the light into that darkness as characterized in John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/it-s-critical-that-we-use-a-very-dark-brush-to-paint-evil-when-you/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [Sin thrives in the dungeon, but slap it on the table for all to see, and it withers rather quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/sin-thrives-in-the-dungeon-but-slap-it-on-the-table-for-all-to-see/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“Elyon was restoring the Great Romance. Teeleh had stolen his first love, but now Justin had reclaimed her. The price had been his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/elyon-was-restoring-the-great-romance-teeleh-had-stolen-his-first/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [The good news is that even though we walk through this valley of death, we don't have to fear, at least not for ourselves!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/the-good-news-is-that-even-though-we-walk-through-this-valley-of/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“We become so used to the familiar that we begin to doubt the unfamiliar, until our eyes are opened and we see .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/we-become-so-used-to-the-familiar-that-we-begin-to-doubt-the/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [Perfect, that's our plan then. But you'll have to give up being a priest first. I wouldn't want to just sit around whispering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/perfect-that-s-our-plan-then-but-you-ll-have-to-give-up-being-a/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

> [“The Beatles insisted he let it be, let it be. Stephen ejected the tape from his eight-track and threw it on the floor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/the-beatles-insisted-he-let-it-be-let-it-be-stephen-ejected-the-tape/)

[Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

[Explore all 222 Ted Dekker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/)

## More Psychology quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [“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/)

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

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

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [“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/)

> [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/)

[Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [No!! Get out of my Head!...You may have invaded my mind and my body...But there's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...his PRIDE!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragon-ball-z/no-get-out-of-my-head-you-may-have-invaded-my-mind-and-my-body-but/)

[Dragon Ball Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragon-ball-z/)

[Browse all 56,059 Psychology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth we all exist in our own sanctuaries-but I don't mean cathedrals or prisons. I'm talking about our hearts and minds, which imprison us in anxiety, dear, insecurity, anger and other forms of misery. The walls & bars that keep most in a constant state of suffering are thoughts and emotions, not concrete & steel. It's a disease. Insanity. Most are afflicted by it, regardless of which side of the law they find themselves on or where they lay their heads at night. To be free of this, Renee, is to be free indeed.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ted Dekker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth-we-all-exist-in-our-own/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Psychology"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth-we-all-exist-in-our-own/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/ted-dekker-1605_psychology_pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth_19066.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In truth we all exist in our own sanctuaries-but I don't mean cathedrals or…” — Ted Dekker",
                "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": "Ted Dekker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Pape called Basil his sanctuary. In...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth-we-all-exist-in-our-own/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/pape-called-basil-his-sanctuary-in-truth-we-all-exist-in-our-own/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
