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Men differ in … social status. … Simple observation shows that in every such situation he who is more favored feels the never ceasing need to look upon his position as in some way “legitimate,” upon his advantage as “deserved,” and the other’s disadvantage as being brought about by the latter’s “fault.” That the purely accidental causes of the difference may be ever so obvious makes no difference.

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More quotes by Max Weber

The more a religion is aware of its opposition in principle to economic rationalization as such, the more apt are the religion’s virtuosi to reject the world, especially its economic activities.

Sociology of Religion (1922)

Mysticism intends a state of "possession," not action, and the individual is not a tool but a "vessel" of the divine.

What interests us here is the assimilative power of the Hindu life order due to its legitimation of social rank.

Religion of India (1916)

The ultimately possible attitudes toward life are irreconcilable, and hence their struggle can never be brought to a final conclusion.

For the true mystic the principle continues to hold: the creature must be silent so that God may speak.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Max Weber (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.