16 quotes
Civil courage, in fact, can grow only out of the free responsibility of free men.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
The great masquerade of evil has played havoc with all our ethical concepts.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
They get entangled in non-essentials and fall into the trap set by cleverer people.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Calling and freedom were to him two sides of the same thing. But in this he misjudged the world; he did not realize that his submissiveness and self-sacrifice could be exploited for evil ends.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
In recent years we have seen a great deal of bravery and self-sacrifice, but civil courage hardly anywhere, even among ourselves.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Still more pathetic is the total collapse of moral fanaticism.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Then there is the man with a conscience, who fights single-handedly against heavy odds in situations that call for a decision.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
The spirit would cast aside all deceit,
open his heart to the spirit he trusts,
and unite with him freely as one.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than with a malicious one.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Distant or near,
in joy or in sorrow,
each in the other
sees his true helper
to brotherly freedom.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Man seeks, in his manhood,
not orders, not laws and peremptory dogmas,
but counsel from one who is earnest in goodness
and faithful in friendship,
making man free.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
The "reasonable" people's failure is obvious. With the best intentions and a naive lack of realism, they think that with a little reason they can bend back into position the framework that has got out of joint.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
There remains an experience of incomparable value. We have for once learned to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcasts, the suspects, the maltreated — in short, from the perspective of those who suffer.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Who stands fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God — the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God. Where are these responsible people?
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)
Not from the heavy soil
where blood and sex and oath
rule in their hallowed might,
where the earth itself,
guarding the primal consecrated order,
avenges wantonness and madness —
not from the heavy soil of the earth,
but from the spirit's choice and free desire, needing no oath of legal bond,
is friend bestowed on friend.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1967)