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:

    A saint about to fall,
    The stained flats of heaven hit and razed
    To the kissed kite hems of his shawl....
    Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)

    Child in the womb,
    Or saint on a tomb
    Which way shall I lie
    To fall asleep?
    Philip Larkin (1922–1986)

    This is the fundamental idea of culture, insofar as it sets but one task for each of us: to further the production of the philosopher, of the artist, and of the saint within us and outside us, and thereby to work at the consummation of nature.
    Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)