Leisure is a receptive attitude

“Leisure implies (in the first place) an attitude of non-activity, of inward calm, of silence; it means not being ‘busy,’ but letting things happen… Leisure is a form of silence, of that silence that is the pre-requisite of the apprehension of reality: only the silent hear and those who do not remain silent, do not hear. Silence as it is used in this context, does not mean ‘dumbness’ or ‘noiselessness’: it means more nearly that the soul’s power to ‘answer’ to the reality of the world is left undisturbed. For leisure is a receptive attitude, and it is not only the occasion but also the capacity for steeping oneself in the whole of creation.”

— Josef Pieper, 1948
German philosopher

Today’s Invitation

Steep yourself in the whole of creation.

This Week’s Query

What does Christmas mean to you?

What is on your heart at this time of year?

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Banner art by Ruth A. Seeley

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  • Josef Pieper (1904 – 1997) was a German Catholic philosopher and an important figure in the resurgence of interest in the thought of Thomas Aquinas in early-to-mid 20th-century philosophy. He was a professor of philosophical anthropology at the University of Münster.

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