Saint

Saint

A saint is one who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness, sanctity, and virtue. While the English term "saint" originated in Christianity, the term is now used by historians of religion "in a more general way to refer to the state of special holiness that many religions attribute to certain people," with the Jewish Tzadik, the Islamic wali, the Hindu rishi or guru, and the Buddhist arahat or boddhisatva also referred to as saints. Depending on the religion, saints are recognized either through official church recognition or by popular acclaim (see Folk saints).

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Famous quotes containing the word saint:

    Upon Saint Crispin’s day
    Fought was this noble fray,
    Which fame did not delay
    To England to carry.
    On when shall Englishmen
    With such acts fill a pen,
    Or England breed again
    Such a King Harry?
    Michael Drayton (1563–1631)

    The saint and poet seek privacy to ends the most public and universal: and it is the secret of culture, to interest the man more in his public, than in his private quality.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    Troll the bowl, the jolly nut-brown bowl,
    And here, kind mate, to thee!
    Let’s sing a dirge for Saint Hugh’s soul,
    And down it merrily.
    Thomas Dekker (1572?–1632?)