Original sin is that thing about man which makes him capable of conceiving of his own perfection and incapable of achieving it.

Quote by Reinhold Niebuhr

Topics: Reinhold Niebuhr Quotes

Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior...

Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior...

Democracy is finding proximate solutions to insoluble problems.

Democracy is finding proximate solutions to insoluble problems.

There are historic situations in which refusal to defend the inheritance of a civilization, however...

There are historic situations in which refusal to defend the inheritance of a civilization, however...

Original sin is that thing about man which makes him capable of conceiving of his...

Original sin is that thing about man which makes him capable of conceiving of his...

Democracy is finding proximate solutions to insoluble problems.

Democracy is finding proximate solutions to insoluble problems.

All human sin seems so much worse in its consequences than in its intentions.

All human sin seems so much worse in its consequences than in its intentions.

Life is a battle between faith and reason in which each feeds upon the other,...

Life is a battle between faith and reason in which each feeds upon the other,...

The whole art of politics consists in directing rationally the irrationalities of men

The whole art of politics consists in directing rationally the irrationalities of men

Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary

Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary

Goodness, armed with power, is corrupted; and pure love without power is destroyed

Goodness, armed with power, is corrupted; and pure love without power is destroyed

The mastery of nature is vainly believed to be an adequate substitute for self mastery.

The mastery of nature is vainly believed to be an adequate substitute for self mastery.

Love is the energizing elixir of the universe, the cause and effect of all harmonies.

Love is the energizing elixir of the universe, the cause and effect of all harmonies.

Forgiveness is the final form of love.

Forgiveness is the final form of love.

Democracies are indeed slow to make war, but once embarked upon a martial venture are...

Democracies are indeed slow to make war, but once embarked upon a martial venture are...

Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.

Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.

Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context...

Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context...

The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.

The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.

If we can find God only as he is revealed in nature we have no...

If we can find God only as he is revealed in nature we have no...

The final wisdom of life requires not the annulment of incongruity but the achievement of...

The final wisdom of life requires not the annulment of incongruity but the achievement of...

Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can...

Family life is too intimate to be preserved by the spirit of justice. It can...