Of a woman who has too long indulged the consolations that come from others' good opinion:
"The heart that found itself so unappeased would have liked, every now and again, to add to them, and enjoy, too, the consolations of religion; but these only come to those who renounce the others; as a shipwrecked man must open his hand and let go the seaweed which he has seized by instinct, if he is to grasp the plank that may bring him safely to the shore."
from Alessandro Manzoni's The Betrothed
Ah for those consolations of religion. Such a complete turning away from sing and turning toward God that it is hard for many to let go of a life that doesn't bring hope for one that does. Thank you for sharing. This helps me - even as a Christian - to consider the putting off of the old and putting on of the new; breaking the habits of sin for the habits of life.
ReplyDeleteIt's the age-old choice, isn't it? I love how you described it.
DeleteVery moving quote! I'm looking forward to reading this next year when my daughter is doing AO Year 8 - I'd never heard of it before seeing it on their schedule.
ReplyDeleteIt was on my radar as an Italian classic (I have studied Italian a bit and heard it suggested), but I was pleased to see it scheduled for our local Well-Read Mom book club since I knew it was an AO title too. I so appreciate when my reading lists overlap like that! :)
DeleteI love seeing your quotes in your notebooks. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's how I hold myself accountable--I don't share it here unless I've added it to my commonplace. ;)
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