Indeed one has to say: a certain seriousness of life begins, when higher knowledge starts to be attained. And even if one obtains nothing else there is one thing one acquires: one learns to recognise one’s own vices and imperfections with infinite clarity. One could say: one acquires an experiential understanding of imperfection and wickedness already during the first steps on the road to the spiritual world.
Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 063 – Geisteswissenschaft als Lebensgut – Berlin, 15th Januari 1914 (page 240)
Translated by Nesta Carsten-Krüger
The whole lecture, translated by Mark Willan, is HERE.
Previously posted on January 21, 2016
The great Rudolf Steiner Quotes Site 