Pearls of Thought: Words of Wisdom. A Selection of Quotations by Rudolf Steiner

By Rudolf Steiner and Matthew Barton

'Truth is simple only for those who first wrestle their way through multiplicity. It is like a thread of many pearls.' – Rudolf SteinerLike pearls in the oyster, pearls of thought are easily overlooked. Lying hidden in texts, they keep their light under a bushel, serving the greater framework and context. But if we draw them out they begin to shine, revealing their translucent facets and intrinsic harmony.In this meditative treasure, the editor has harvested and threaded together such pearls from Rudolf Steiner's books, creating new textures and striking panoramas. Dynamic constellations of thought arise, allowing us unusual and surprising access to Steiner's spiritual and philosophical thinking. In contrast to the prevailing view that meaning arises only in context, these self-sufficient verbal universes show us that the opposite can also be true. The pearls of thought in this compact pocket book acquire enhanced meaning in isolation, mysteriously becoming independent of the thoughts and phrases that precede or follow them.
This collection of quotations, free of jargon or technical terminology, is accessible to all readers interested in developing a meaningful understanding of the human being's place in the world and cosmos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rudolf Steiner Press
• Release date: Jun 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781855844544

Rudolf Steiner

Nineteenth and early twentieth century philosopher.

Book preview

author

RUDOLF STEINER (1861–1925) called his spiritual philosophy ‘anthroposophy’, meaning ‘wisdom of the human being’. As a highly developed seer, he based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual dimensions. He initiated a modern and universal ‘science of spirit’, accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and unprejudiced thinking.

From his spiritual investigations Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of many activities, including education (both general and special), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. Today there are thousands of schools, clinics, farms and other organizations involved in practical work based on his principles. His many published works feature his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development. Steiner wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe. In 1924 he founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world.

PEARLS OF THOUGHT

WORDS OF WISDOM

A selection of quotations by

RUDOLF STEINER

Compiled and introduced by Daniel Baumgartner

RUDOLF STEINER PRESS

Translated by Matthew Barton

Rudolf Steiner Press

Hillside House, The Square

Forest Row, RH18 5ES

E-mail: [e-mail]

www.rudolfsteinerpress.com

Published by Rudolf Steiner Press 2015

Originally published in German under the title Perlen des Denkens by Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Basel, in 2008

© Rudolf Steiner Verlag 2008

This translation © Rudolf Steiner Press 2015

All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Inquiries should be addressed to the Publishers

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Print book ISBN: 978 1 85584 413 1

Ebook ISBN: 978 1 85584 454 4

Cover by Morgan Creative

Typeset by DP Photosetting, Neath, West Glamorgan

Contents

About This Book

1. Before anything else can be grasped, thinking itself must be

2. The world's content of ideas is founded on itself

3. We do not act because we should but because we have the will to

4. A consciously knowing being cannot be unfree

5. To err is to be human

6. Overcoming our sensory nature through the spirit is the goal of art and science

7. Nothing actually sunders itself from the rest of the world

8. The source of morality is spiritual pleasure in what we ourselves engender

9. We can only find nature outside us if we first know it within us

10. Outer freedom in social interaction depends upon the inner freedom of each individual

11. On occasion truth is destined to sound paradoxical in relation to contemporary realities

12. With our I, you see, we are quite alone

Bibliography

GA Page References

Only rarely does someone wholly express their full individuality in a book.

About this Book

Like pearls in the oyster, pearls of wisdom lie hidden in texts and are easily overlooked. They keep their light under a bushel, serving a framework and context of thought. If we draw them out they begin to shine, revealing their translucent