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Whosoever is free from the contamination of luxury and licence, may go forth to the fields and to the woods, inhaling joyous renovation from the breath of Spring, or catching from the odours and sounds of Autumn some diviner mood of sweetest sadness, which improves the softened heart. Whosoever is no deceiver or destroyer of his fellow men - no liar, no flatterer, no murderer may walk among his species, deriving, from the communion with all which they contain of beautiful or of majestic, some intercourse with the Universal God. Whosoever has maintained with his own heart the strictest correspondence of confidence, who dares to examine and to estimate every imagination which suggests itself to his mind - whosoever is that which he designs to become, and only aspires to that which the divinity of his own nature shall consider and approve - he has already seen God.

Percy Bysshe Shelley#179

NatureSpiritualityVirtueGod

About this quote

What does it mean?
Those free from luxury and sin can find God in nature and honest living.
In plain terms
Live simply and honestly to connect with God and nature.
What can you take from it?
Simplicity and honesty lead to spiritual connection.

Where it applies

  • spiritual seeking
  • nature walks
  • ethical living

Putting it to work

  • walk in nature
  • live honestly
  • avoid excess

Questions to consider

  • Where do you find God?
  • Is simplicity spiritual?

Another view

It assumes nature reveals God to everyone.

More from Percy Bysshe Shelley

  1. God, it has been asserted, was contemplated by Jesus Christ as every poet and every philosopher must have contemplated that mysterious principle. He considered…

    Permalink to quote #178
  2. We live and move and think; but we are not the creators of our own origin and existence. We are not the arbiters of every motion of our own complicated nature;…

    Permalink to quote #180
  3. 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.' Blessed are those who have preserved internal sanctity of soul; who are conscious of no secret deceit;…

    Permalink to quote #177

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