The Bell

by Iris Murdoch

“For the hard idea of truth we had substituted the facile idea of sincerity.”

He concluded provisionally that what was required of one was to be good, a task which usually presented a singularly simple though steep face, and not to recognize its refinements. There he left the matter, having no time for philosophical speculation.

Our actions are like ships which we may watch set out to sea, and not know when or with what cargo they will return to port.

One must perform the lower act which one can manage and sustain: not the higher act which one bungles.

This is the struggle, pleasing surely in the sight of God, to become more fully and deeply the person that we are; and by exploring and hallowing every corner of our being, to bring into existence that one and perfect individual which God in creating us entrusted to our care.’

if one departs from a simple apprehension of certain definite commandments one may become absorbed in the excitement of a spiritual drama for its own sake.

Good is an overflow.