Most people really believe that the Christian commandments (such as, to love one's neighbor as oneself) are intentionally a little too severe--like putting the clock ahead a half an hour to make sure of not being late in the morning.

Soren Kierkegaard
Danish philosopher


The eye in which I see God is the same eye in which God sees me. My eye and God's eye are one eye and one seeing, one knowing and one loving.

Meister Eckhart (1260-1327)
German Dominican mystic and theologian


The reason why we live starving in the coldness and deadness of a formal, historical, hearsay religion is this: we are strangers to our own inward miseries and wants, we keep all things quiet within us, partly by outward forms and modes of religion and morality, and partly by the comforts, cares, and delights of this world...

William Law (1686-1761)
English contemplative and cleric


A person is not saved by having once shown mercy to someone, although if he scorns someone but once he deserves eternal fire. For "I was hungry," and "I was thirsty" was said not just of one occasion, not of one day, but of the whole of life. In the same way "you gave me food," "you gave me drink," "you clothed me" and so on does not indicate one incident, but a constant attitude to everyone.

Simeon the New Theologian (949-1022)
Orthodox saint, mystic, and spiritual writer