"The phase of thought or feeling which we call Mysticism has its origin in that which is the raw material of all religion, and perhaps of all philosophy and art as well, namely, that dim consciousness of the beyond, which is part of our nature as human beings. Men have given different names to these "obstinate questionings of sense and outward things." We may call them, if we will, a sort of higher instinct, perhaps an anticipation of the evolutionary process; or an extension of the frontier of consciousness; or, in religious language, the voice of God speaking to us. Mysticism arises when we try to bring this higher consciousness into relation with the other contents of our minds."
More by William Ralph Inge
See allResonant Thoughts
"If it is suggested that I preached the idea of freedom for my country and this is against the law, I plead guilty to the charge. If that is the law here I say I have done that and I request you to con…"
"Approaching it in one way, I see no essential difference between a line one calls 'abstract' and a 'fish'. But rather an essential likeness. This isolated line and the isolated fish alike are living b…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"I get a very deep sense that the generation after Generation X is a very conservative generation, and I'm n…"
— Russell Crowe"The gold rush changed California, it changed the whole west, and it changed America's sense of itself becau…"
— J. S. Holliday"I think it's very interesting that all the conservative Republicans who now say I didn't do enough claimed …"
— Bill Clinton"Nietzsche's great concept of Yea-saying gave him a notion of purpose that is seen as positive. Nietzsche, i…"
— Colin Wilson"Einstein said that the only incomprehensible thing about the universe was that it was comprehensible. But r…"
— Gregory Benford"The main thing I tried to stress was how badly I was treated in the American camp at Freising, but the Amer…"
— Julius Streicher

