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To be in the world and yet not of the world is the highest perfection, the most blessed peace, is to achieve the greatest victory.
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“To be in the world and yet not of the world is the highest perfection, the most blessed peace, is to achieve the greatest victory.”

James Allen

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Source
The Way of Peace
Date
1901
Meaning

Meaning of “To be in the world and yet not…”

Allen defines peace as freedom from being inwardly ruled by surrounding pressures, presenting self-command and spiritual detachment as a deeper victory than external conquest.

Source context

Where does it come from?

The Way of Peace; Allen contrasts inward spiritual independence with being carried along by the impulses and conflicts of the surrounding world.

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Themes

Ideas connected with this quotation

Acceptance Quotes About Reality, Limits & ChangeCalmDiscipline Quotes About Habits, Practice & ConsistencyInner PeaceLetting Go Quotes About Release & Moving ForwardMindfulnessMoving OnPatiencePeacePresent MomentSelf-Control Quotes About Restraint & JudgmentWisdom Quotes About Judgment & Living WellLife Goes OnSpiritual
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True instruction is this:—to learn to wish that each thing should come to pass as it does.
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“True instruction is this:—to learn to wish that each thing should come to pass as it does.”

Epictetus · The Golden Sayings of Epictetus · c. 125
Meaning & context

Stoic instruction begins by reducing the conflict between reality and demand, leaving judgment and action to work with what actually occurs.

Source details

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, saying XXVI, Hastings Crossley translation.

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Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.
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“Demand not that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.”

Epictetus · Enchiridion · c. 125
Meaning & context

Peace is sought by aligning desire with reality rather than requiring reality to obey preference, a central Stoic distinction between response and circumstance.

Source details

Enchiridion, section 8; Epictetus applies Stoic acceptance to events outside personal control.

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The mind is its own place.
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“The mind is its own place.”

John Milton · Paradise Lost · 1667
Voice: Poetic speaker · Satan
Meaning & context

The statement emphasizes how mental framing can alter the experience of circumstances, for good or ill.

Source details

Paradise Lost (1667), Book I, line 254; retained legacy short extract from the fuller Satan sentence beginning ‘The mind is its own place’ and continuing into line 255. It is the same underlying passage as the longer catalog record, not a separate fifth passage.

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It is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.
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“It is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.”

Marcus Aurelius · Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus · c. 170
Meaning & context

A person can create an inward pause even when external conditions are noisy, using reflection to restore order before returning to action.

Source details

Meditations, Book IV, in George Long’s translation; this is the central clause of the retreat passage.

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