That is the great end of empires before God, to be Catholic and draw nations into their Catholicism. But our empire is less and less Christian as it grows.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Empires claim to bring faith to nations, but often lose their own religious values as they grow.
- In plain terms
- Empires say they spread faith but lose their own values.
- What can you take from it?
- Power can corrupt religious mission.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does power corrupt faith?
- How should nations act?
Another view
Some argue influence can spread values without corruption.
More from Gerard Manley Hopkins
It kills me to be time's eunuch and never to beget.
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Permalink to quote #19 You do not mean by mystery what a Catholic does. You mean an interesting uncertainty: the uncertainty ceasing, interest ceases also.... But a Catholic by myste…
Permalink to quote #16
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