One must not always think so much about what one should do, but rather what one should be. Our works do not ennoble us; but we must ennoble our works.

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260-1328?) German theologian, philosopher, mystic [a.k.a. Johannes Eckhart von Hochheim; Eckhart; Eckehart]
Work and Being (14th C.)

Note: I haven't found a text by that name in Eckhart's bibliography, nor this quotation anywhere connected with anything but that title or none at all.

 
Added on 23-Sep-20 | Last updated 23-Sep-20
Link to this post | 2 comments
Topics: , , , , , , ,
More quotes by Eckhart, Meister

2 thoughts on “<i>Work and Being</i> (14th C.)”

  1. It is from “The Talks of Instruction,” no. 4, “Of the Value of Resignation.” It is translated on p. 489 of the document linked below like this: “Do not think to place holiness in doing; we should place holiness in being, for it is not the works that sanctify us, but we who should sanctify the works.” https://german.yale.edu/sites/default/files/meister-eckhart-maurice-o-c-walshe-bernard-mcginn-the-complete-mystical-works-of-meister-eckhart-the-crossroad-publishing-company-2009.pdf

Thoughts? Comments? Corrections? Feedback?