"Those who speak ill of the spiritual life, although they come and go by day, are like the smith's bellows: they take breath but are not alive"
- William Hazlitt
About this Quote
The quote suggests that those who slam the spiritual life are not truly experiencing it. They might engage with spirituality on a shallow level, but they do not have a much deeper understanding and connection to it. The comparison to a smith's bellows indicates that they may seem breathing and applying effort, however they are not genuinely alive. To put it simply, those who speak terribly of the spiritual life may take part in it on a surface level, however they are losing out on the real advantages and vigor it can bring. This quote motivates individuals who are interested in spirituality to completely embrace it and ignore the critiques of those who do not comprehend its real worth.