Aspect Quote by Thomas Berry
“Every being has its own interior, its self, its mystery, its numinous aspect. To deprive any being of this sacred quality is to disrupt the total order of the universe. Reverence will be total or it will not be at all. The universe does not come to us in pieces any more than a human individual stands before us with some part of his/her being.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Dream of the Earth by Thomas Berry, 1999
Recognizing each being’s inner sacredness is essential; denying it harms universal harmony.
In simple terms: Every being has a sacred inner self that must be respected.
Key Takeaway
Respect all beings’ inner mystery.
Themes
spirituality
environment
respect
Mood
reflective
reverent
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- environmental policy
- education
- interpersonal relations
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
sacredness
holism
order
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor the inner mystery of all beings?
- What practices foster reverence for the sacred?
A Different Perspective
Neglecting inner mystery can lead to exploitation and alienation.
![“We may take it that the world is undoubtedly itself [i.e., is indistinct from itself], but, in any attempt to see itself, as an object, it must, equally, undoubtedly act so as to make itself distinct from and therefore false to itself. In this sense, in respect to its own information, the universe…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/899/g-spencer-brown-150876_cosmology_we-may-take-it-that-the-world-is-undoubt_2318632.jpg)
![“During this period (of technological confinement / [and language]) the human mind has been placed in its narrowest confines it has experienced since consciousness emerged from its Paleolithic phase. Even the most primitive tribes have a larger vision of the universe, of our place and functioning…” quote by Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/64a/thomas-berry-7391_celestial_during-this-period-of-technological-conf_237540.jpg)
