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Quote by Hilary Mantel

“They have never had a harsh word till today, he thinks, and perhaps what has passed is less harsh than sad: that a son can think evil of his father as if he is a stranger and you cannot tell what he might do; as if he is a traveller on the road, who might bless your journey and cheer you on, or equally rob you and roll you in a ditch.”

Quote by Hilary Mantel

Work

The Mirror & the Light

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Author

Hilary Mantel
Hilary Mantel

British author Hilary Mantel is renowned for her historical novels, particularly for her Thomas Cromwell series, which has earned her international acclaim. Mantel's works are celebrated for their profound insights and literary achievements. more

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“God is not a 'He', yet 'he' is a part of God. 'God is', any word that follows 'God is' is mostly error, and for that matter, every word that follows 'God is' is partially correct, since every word is a way of partially describing the Whole. But no one word could ever do that, or even ALL the words could never describe God. If ALL the words could never describe the experience of tasting salt, which they can't, then it is folly to think that words could ever be an accurate description of the Creator of salt. The only way to know salt is to experience it personally, and that experience will be one of a kind, it will be yours. Creation can't be put in a box, no matter how big we try to make that box, it will always be too small.”

“Religions mistakenly consider advise/warnings from books of wisdom to be commandments, there are no commandments, no one has ever been commanded by Creation. However, there is Love. If I saw you walking towards a cliff that you did not know was there, would it be wrong of me, in pure LOVE, to warn you? ALL of the books of wisdom are simply that and are meant for us to take from them what we understand, can use, and leave the rest, they are meant to be revisited many times. If I gave you the gift of a warm blanket during the hot summer months, the pure Joy of the gift could not be realized until the winter came. Wisdom is like that, sometimes it is looked at in the summer and so we only find the summer parts useful, but if we revisit wisdom in the winter, we'll pick up many things that were left behind on our previous visit. Religion is a tool that can help one begin Spiritual discipline. Unfortunately many begin to think of the tool of religion as their God. Like any tool, once it is no longer useful, it must be set down in order to free the hand for picking up the next useful tool. Religion as a tool is useful until it isn't. Religion as a God is a cruel and destructive thing that brings much despair.”

“Somewhere down the winding road that leads through the valley of Love, Wisdom and Understanding, you'll realize that you're truly ready, that you've grown so much, that fear is a fading memory because of the Faith that has taken its place. You'll know when this happens because you will find yourself fully grateful and accepting of EVERYTHING that you have ever experienced, you will feel comfortable in your skin, comfortable in silence having no need for wasteful distractions. You'll realize that you trust, and are no longer desperate for ANYTHING except to serve in the raising up of your fellow beings.”