A beautiful passage from one of the British philosopher’s unpublished journals:

“‘Achievement’ is the ‘diabolical’ element in human life; and the symbol of our vulgarization of human life is our near exclusive concern with achievement… Whereas the only human value lies in the adventure and the excitement of discovery. Not standing on the top of Everest, but getting there. Not the ‘conquests’ but the battles; not the ‘victory’ but the ‘play.’ It is our non-recognition of this, our rejection of it, which makes our civilization a non-religious civilization. At least, non-Christian: Christianity is the religion of ‘non-achievement.'”

COMMENTS

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4 responses to “Michael Oakeshott on Non-Achievement”

1. Mike Burton says:

   08/04/2010 at 11:05 am

   If Christianity is the religion of non-achievement, I'm the most Christian person I know.

   Reply
2. StampDawg says:

   08/04/2010 at 12:07 pm

   Me too, Mike. I feel like I have the Scarlet L on me most of the times.

   Reply
3. Margaret E says:

   08/04/2010 at 3:13 pm

   No, no… I'm the most Christian!

   Actually, we all spend way too much time on blogs to 'achieve' a whole lot 🙂

   Reply
4. Mark Babikow says:

   08/05/2010 at 2:17 am

   I would say that this is profound but that might be too great an achievement. Can I be the first to claim that I am the greatest worst Christian of all times without offending anyone? I also tithe like a butterfly and praise like a bee.

   Reply