(Speaking of the Cistercian monks) A grim fraternity, passing grim lives in that sweet spot, that God had made so bright! Strange that Nature's voices all around them--the soft singing of the waters, the wisperings of the river grass, the music of the rushing wind--should not have taught them a truer meaning of life than this. They listened there, through the long days, in silence, waiting for a voice from heaven; and all day long and through the solemn night it spoke to them in myriad tones, and they heard it not. Jerome K. Jerome
About This Quote

The Cistercian monks are a group of religious men who lived in the European middle ages. The Cistercians were devoted to practicing asceticism, which means they practiced austere acts in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The Cistercians believed that things like music and dancing were distractions from the path to God. They believed that these activities were frivolous and unnecessary in order to achieve religion. The poem is in part about how they are in tune with nature but are missing the meaning of life because they are in tune only with the natural world and not with humanity.

The Cistercians also did not learn to read or write, so they had no ability to learn about the greater world. These men did however have great lives of service and sacrifice for God.

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