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20 Noteworthy Quotes By Ernesto Cardenal

Famous As: Nicaraguan Catholic Priest and Poet; Founder of the 'Primitivist' Art Community in the Solentiname Islands
Born On: 1925
Died On: 2020
Born In: Granada, Nicaragua
Founder / Co Founder: Christian primitivist art community
Died At Age: 95
Ernesto Cardenal is a celebrated Nicaraguan poet, politician, revolutionary and former Catholic priest. He has founded the primitivist art community in Solentiname Islands and is also a liberation theologian. A number of people consider him to be Nicaragua’s second greatest poet. He has devoted his life to the cause of justice and service of poor. His thoughts, works and life is directed towards the poor and powerless. His works, writings, thoughts, books and poetry were initially focused on love and life. However, his works like ‘Zero Hour’ reflect his Marxist political ideas. Following is a compilation of quotable quotes and sayings by the distinguished poet and revolutionary which have been excerpted from his writings, poems, books, ideas, thoughts, theories, works and life. Let us browse through the quotations and thoughts by Ernesto Cardenal which are quoted widely and extensively.
LIFE IS SUBVERSIVE

LIFE IS SUBVERSIVE

Ernesto Cardenal
... You can't be with God and be neutral. / True contemplation is resistance. And poetry, / gazing at clouds is resistance I found out in jail.

... You can't be with God and be neutral. / True contemplation is resistance. And poetry, / gazing at clouds is resistance I found out in jail.

Ernesto Cardenal
My poetry is not lyric. The epigrams are lyric because they come from my youthful period of lyricism, but my other poetry is not lyric.

My poetry is not lyric. The epigrams are lyric because they come from my youthful period of lyricism, but my other poetry is not lyric.

Ernesto Cardenal
All human eyes have longing in them.

All human eyes have longing in them.

Ernesto Cardenal
We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.

We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.

Ernesto Cardenal
Slogan-making is not poetry.

Slogan-making is not poetry.

Ernesto Cardenal
I am not interested in poetry for poetry's sake.

I am not interested in poetry for poetry's sake.

Ernesto Cardenal
I began to write poetry when I was about four years old. In other words, I've always been writing poetry.

I began to write poetry when I was about four years old. In other words, I've always been writing poetry.

Ernesto Cardenal
I speak of the current civilization and I consider her not as a symbol but as victim-victim, really, of the commercialization, of the falsification of this real world. That is my theme.

I speak of the current civilization and I consider her not as a symbol but as victim-victim, really, of the commercialization, of the falsification of this real world. That is my theme.

Ernesto Cardenal
What Marxism calls atheism is basically the negation of an idol, which sometimes bears the name of God.

What Marxism calls atheism is basically the negation of an idol, which sometimes bears the name of God.

Ernesto Cardenal
I myself have never called what I write anti-poetry. I also think that my poetry should not be only known as the poetry of Ernesto Cardenal but rather as Nicaraguan poetry.

I myself have never called what I write anti-poetry. I also think that my poetry should not be only known as the poetry of Ernesto Cardenal but rather as Nicaraguan poetry.

Ernesto Cardenal
I am not interested in an economic liberation of man without the liberation of the whole man.

I am not interested in an economic liberation of man without the liberation of the whole man.

Ernesto Cardenal
According to some liberation theologians atheism is not the cause of the conflict between Christianity and Marxism, but is rather the link between them.

According to some liberation theologians atheism is not the cause of the conflict between Christianity and Marxism, but is rather the link between them.

Ernesto Cardenal
God may do something silly at any time, because, like any lover, God does not reason. God is drunk with love.

God may do something silly at any time, because, like any lover, God does not reason. God is drunk with love.

Ernesto Cardenal
We all share in the same cosmic rhythm... For all natural laws are like the rhythm of the strings of the harp.

We all share in the same cosmic rhythm... For all natural laws are like the rhythm of the strings of the harp.

Ernesto Cardenal
Like a lover who spends all his time thinking of his distant love, God has been thinking of me since before I was born, for all eternity.

Like a lover who spends all his time thinking of his distant love, God has been thinking of me since before I was born, for all eternity.

Ernesto Cardenal
I think that the proclamation of the Gospel is sometimes nearer to an atheistic point of view than to traditional religious attitudes.

I think that the proclamation of the Gospel is sometimes nearer to an atheistic point of view than to traditional religious attitudes.

Ernesto Cardenal

Some liberation theologians maintain that they are not influenced by Marxist philosophy at all. In this case it is necessary to discern whether they say this for tactical reasons, so as not to be compromised politically or whether they are really convinced that Marxism doesn't influence them in any way. I personally think that it is not possible to evade the influence of Marxism, as we cannot commit ourselves to the revolutionary struggle without drawing support from the conclusions of scientific socialism.

Ernesto Cardenal

The revolution in Nicaragua was the first of its kind to be accomplished with the mass support of Christians, a fact that cannot fail to influence the further development of revolutionary movements in the whole of Latin America, whose inhabitants are predominantly Christian.

Ernesto Cardenal

There is however difference between the theology of liberation and traditional theology, the latter being based primarily On the Word of God made incarnate in the Holy Scripture Liberation theology is of course also inspired by the Word, but its representatives are convinced that God also speaks to us in everyday events and that, for example, information obtained through the mass media can be a special way in which God speaks to us.

Ernesto Cardenal