When theology erodes and organization crumbles, when the institutional framework of religion begins to break up, the search for a ...direct experience which people can feel to be religious facilitates the rise of cults. A cult differs from a formal religion in many significant ways. It is in the nature of a cult to claim some esoteric knowledge which has been submerged (or repressed by orthodoxy) for a long time but has now suddenly been illuminated. There is often some heterodox figure, mocked or scorned by the orthodox, who presents these new teachings. There are communal rites which often permit or spur an individual to act out impulses that had hitherto been repressed. In the cult, one feels as though one were exploring novel or hitherto taboo modes of conduct. What defines a cult, therefore, is its implicit emphasis on magic rather than theology, on the personal tie to a guru or to the group, rather than to an institution or a creed.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Much of the wisdom of the world is not wisdom, and the most illuminated class of men are no doubt superior to literary fame, and a...re not writers.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Man is made of the same atoms the world is, he shares the same impressions, predispositions, and destiny. When his mind is illumin...ated, when his heart is kind, he throws himself joyfully into the sublime order, and does, with knowledge, what the stones do by structure.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Mostly, we authors must repeat ourselves--that's the truth. We have two or three great moving experiences in our lives--experience...s so great and moving that it doesn't seem at the time that anyone else has been so caught up and pounded and dazzled and astonished and beaten and broken and rescued and illuminated and rewarded and humbled in just that way ever before.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Chance does not speak essentially through words nor can it be seen in their convolution. It is the eruption of language, its sudde...n appearance.... It's not a night atwinkle with stars, an illuminated sleep, nor a drowsy vigil. It is the very edge of consciousness.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
It is the essence of truth that it is never excessive. Why should it exaggerate? There is that which should be destroyed and that ...which should be simply illuminated and studied. How great is the force of benevolent and searching examination! We must not resort to the flame where only light is required.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Time advances: facts accumulate; doubts arise. Faint glimpses of truth begin to appear, and shine more and more unto the perfect d...ay. The highest intellects, like the tops of mountains, are the first to catch and to reflect the dawn. They are bright, while the level below is still in darkness. But soon the light, which at first illuminated only the loftiest eminences, descends on the plain, and penetrates to the deepest valley. First come hints, then fragments of systems, then defective systems, then complete and harmonious systems. The sound opinion, held for a time by one bold speculator, becomes the opinion of a small minority, of a strong minority, of a majority of mankind. Thus, the great progress goes on.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
But he though blind of sight, Despis'd and thought extinguish't quite,... With inward eyes illuminated His fierie vertue rouz'd From under ashes into sudden flame, And as an ev'ning Dragon came,LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
... the ocean could not be swept back with a broom. The truth was out. It illuminated the world. Motherhood no longer cringed befo...re the relentless laws of fecundity.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
There is nothing on earth more exquisite than a bonny book, with well-placed columns of rich black writing in beautiful borders, a...nd illuminated pictures cunningly inset. But nowadays, instead of looking at books, people read them. A book might as well be one of those orders for bacon and bran.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »