“To understand a saint, you must hear the devil's advocate; and the same is true of the artist.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish playwright
The Sanity of Art: An Exposure of the Current Nonsense about Artists being Degenerate (1908)
1900s
In other words, do not be so concerned about fighting kings. Let them be. Set up a marginal society which will not be interested in such things, in which there will be no power, authority or hierarchy. Do not do things as they are usually done in society, which you cannot change. Create another society on another foundation.
p. 62
Anarchy and Christianity (1988)
“To understand a saint, you must hear the devil's advocate; and the same is true of the artist.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish playwright
The Sanity of Art: An Exposure of the Current Nonsense about Artists being Degenerate (1908)
1900s
James H. Cone (1938–2018) American theologian
Source: Black Theology and Black Power (1969), p. 139
Olaf Stapledon book Star Maker
Source: Star Maker (1937), Chapter XV: The Maker and His Works; 2. Mature Creating (p. 179)
John Mortimer (1923–2009) English barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author
Source: Where There's a Will: Thoughts on the Good Life (2003), Ch. 11 : Lying
Caspar David Friedrich (1774–1840) Swedish painter
in original language - German: Warum, die Frag' ist oft zu mir ergangen / Wählst du zum Gegenstand der Malerei / So oft den Tod, Vergänglichkeit und Grab? / Um ewig einst zu leben / Muss man sich oft dem Tod ergeben.
Quote c. 1812; from Caspar David Friedrich, William Vaughn; London: Tate Gallery, 1972, p. 16–17
1794 - 1840
Margaret Atwood book Morning in the Burned House
"In the Secular Night"
Morning in the Burned House (1995)
Context: There is so much silence between the words,
you say. You say, The sensed absence
of God and the sensed presence
amount to much the same thing,
only in reverse.
You say, I have too much white clothing.
You start to hum.
Several hundred years ago
this could have been mysticism
or heresy. It isn’t now.
Outside there are sirens.
Someone’s been run over.
The century grinds on.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) German Lutheran pastor, theologian, dissident anti-Nazi
Source: Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community
“He must be a poor creature that does not often repeat himself.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894) Poet, essayist, physician
The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (1858)
Context: He must be a poor creature that does not often repeat himself. Imagine the author of the excellent piece of advice, "Know thyself," never alluding to that sentiment again during the course of a protracted existence! Why, the truths a man carries about with him are his tools; and do you think a carpenter is bound to use the same plane but once to smooth a knotty board with, or to hang up his hammer after it has driven its first nail? I shall never repeat a conversation, but an idea often. I shall use the same types when I like, but not commonly the same stereotypes. A thought is often original, though you have uttered it a hundred times. It has come to you over a new route, by a new and express train of associations.
Jerry Coyne book Faith vs. Fact: Why Science and Religion are Incompatible
Source: Faith vs. Fact (2015), p. 63