Dorothy Day, a prominent American journalist, social activist, and devout Catholic, is widely known for her tireless efforts in advocating for social justice and the rights of the poor. Her autobiography, “The Long Loneliness,” is a testament to her remarkable journey and the profound impact she had on society. Throughout her life, Day shared countless pearls of wisdom that continue to inspire and resonate with people from all walks of life. In this article, we will explore some of the most powerful quotes from “The Long Loneliness” by Dorothy Day.
Read these Dorothy Day: The Long Loneliness Quotes
“We have all known the long loneliness, and we have found that the answer is community.”
“Love casts out fear, but we have to get over the fear in order to get close enough to love them.”
“We must talk about poverty, because people insulated by their own comfort lose sight of it.”
“The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution that has to start with each one of us?”
“What we would like to do is change the world — make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended for them to do.”
“Don’t call us saints. We don’t want to be dismissed that easily.”
“Our problems stem from our acceptance of this filthy, rotten system.”
“The Gospel takes away our right forever to discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving poor.”
“The works of mercy are the opposite of a commodity. They are free, given to the poor, the outcast, the prisoner, the beggar, and the sick.”
“We need to change the system. We need to overthrow, not the government, as the authorities are always accusing the Communists of conspiring to teach us, but this rotten, decadent, putrid industrial capitalist system which breeds such suffering in the whited sepulcher of New York.”
“No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.”
“If we could only learn that God is not the easy way out of our troubles, but the way through them. We are to help our neighbor, as Christ loved us, in trouble, in anxiety, in distress.”
“We need a revolution of the heart. We need a revolution which is not afraid of cleaning out our pockets and which calls on us to live simply, to love deeply, to give freely, and to witness powerfully.”
“We must try to do everything in our power to help those who need it, and to make our world a better place for all.”
“No matter how many people pray, no matter how many people go to church, no matter how many people call themselves Christians, if they are not willing to adapt their lives, their whole lives, to that Jesus who preached love and justice and mercy, they will go to hell.”
“We must be willing to give up the security of our middle-class way of life and reach out to the marginalized, the oppressed, and the forgotten.”
“We must live in the world as if it were the world that God wants, not as if it were the world we want.”
“We are all brothers and sisters, and we have a responsibility to care for one another.”
“Our faith calls us to action. It calls us to stand up for the rights of the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized.”
“We cannot separate our faith from our actions. They are intertwined, and we must live out our beliefs through our deeds.”
These quotes from “The Long Loneliness” by Dorothy Day encapsulate her unwavering commitment to social justice, love, and compassion. They serve as a reminder that each of us has a role to play in creating a more just and equitable society. Let us draw inspiration from Dorothy Day’s words and strive to make a positive impact in our own lives and the lives of those around us.
