But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or

But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or

Lafcadio Hearn
22/09/2025
17/10/2025

But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.

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But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or
But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or

Hear well the wisdom of Lafcadio Hearn, who speaks with reverence of the sacred texts that have shaped the world: “But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special beauty of its own; and in this respect the original Bible stands very high as a monument of sublime poetry and of artistic prose.” In this, Hearn invites us to see the sacred scriptures not merely as religious texts but as works of art, as expressions of beauty, craftsmanship, and deep spiritual insight. These scriptures—whether from the ancient Hebrews, the profound Indian wisdom, the Persian poetry, or the ancient Chinese philosophy—contain within them a language that is as much about artistic expression as it is about faith.

The ancients too, recognized the power of sacred writings to elevate the spirit and inspire awe. Take, for example, the Vedas of India, whose hymns, prayers, and chants are infused with a rhythm and beauty that transcends mere communication of religious ideas. The Vedas are not simply books of instruction—they are works of poetry that speak to the divine, to the nature of existence, and to the relationship between humanity and the cosmos. Similarly, the Tao Te Ching by Laozi in China weaves together philosophy and beauty in a way that remains unparalleled in its simplicity and depth. These sacred texts, though meant to guide the soul, also stir the mind with their beauty and artistry. Poetry and prose blend seamlessly to convey profound truths about life, nature, and the universe.

In the same light, consider the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Psalms and Proverbs, whose language is poetic in its rhythm, metaphor, and structure. The Psalms, attributed to King David, are deeply emotional songs that capture the full range of human experience—joy, sorrow, longing, and praise. These are not dry, utilitarian religious verses but poetry that speaks to the soul. Even within the more historical and legal parts of the Bible, there is a rhythm, a cadenced repetition, and a resonance that draws the reader in, lifting the words to a level of artistic expression. Hearn rightly acknowledges that the Bible, in its original form, holds a beauty that transcends the religious domain and enters the realm of universal art.

Consider the Quran as well, the Persian scriptures, whose language is renowned for its lyrical beauty and elegance. The Quran is not merely a guide to living but a monument of linguistic and literary achievement, with verses that have been recited and memorized for centuries because of their beauty. The intricate rhythms and the metaphoric richness of the language elevate it beyond the mere transmission of religious doctrine. The Quran, like the Bible, speaks directly to the spirit, but it also serves as a beacon of literary greatness, a testament to the power of sacred words to move and inspire.

Hearn’s observation teaches us a valuable lesson: art is not confined to the secular world alone. The sacred, too, can be artistic in nature, and in fact, often contains some of the greatest examples of poetry and prose. The beauty of these texts lies not only in their religious significance but in their power to express the inexpressible—whether that is the nature of the divine, the essence of the human condition, or the mysteries of life itself. Just as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey have survived not only because of their cultural value but because of their poetic brilliance, so too have the sacred texts of the world endured because of their artistic merit.

The lesson, then, is one of understanding and appreciating the deeper layers of meaning within sacred and ancient texts. Poetry and prose are not just tools of communication—they are vessels of beauty, carrying ideas and emotions that transcend the practical. Whether it is the Bible, the Quran, the Vedas, or the Tao Te Ching, we are invited to look beyond the religious content and appreciate the artistry with which these texts are crafted. These texts, sacred in nature, hold within them a universal beauty that speaks to the human soul.

Practical actions follow. When you read sacred texts, approach them not only with a mind for their religious significance but also with an eye for their literary power. See the poetry within them, feel the rhythms of the words, and appreciate the beauty in the structure and language. If you are a writer or a poet, understand that your words can carry not only meaning but also beauty. Whether you write about the sacred or the mundane, seek to create work that touches the soul and inspires awe. Embrace the art of language, for words are not just tools of communication—they are the means by which we connect to the eternal.

Thus, Lafcadio Hearn calls us to recognize the artistic nature of the sacred, to appreciate the beauty and poetry that lie within even the most revered religious texts. By understanding this, we open ourselves to a deeper connection to the world’s most profound expressions of humanity, allowing their wisdom and beauty to shape us. The sacred and the artistic are intertwined, and it is in that union that the greatest works of poetry and prose have been born.

Lafcadio Hearn
Lafcadio Hearn

Japanese - Author June 27, 1850 - September 26, 1904

With the author

I often imagine that the longer he studies English literature the more the Japanese student must be astonished at the extraordinary predominance given to the passion of love both in fiction and in poetry.

Lafcadio Hearn

The subject of Finnish poetry ought to have a special interest for the Japanese student, if only for the reason that Finnish poetry comes more closely in many respects to Japanese poetry than any other form of Western poetry.

Lafcadio Hearn

It is true that short forms of poetry have been cultivated in the Far East more than in modern Europe; but in all European literature short forms of poetry are to be found - indeed quite as short as anything in Japanese.

Lafcadio Hearn

French novels generally treat of the relations of women to the world and to lovers, after marriage; consequently there is a great deal in French novels about adultery, about improper relations between the sexes, about many things which the English public would not allow.

Lafcadio Hearn

At last, in 1611, was made, under the auspices of King James, the famous King James version; and this is the great literary monument of the English language.

Lafcadio Hearn

There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from fulfilling her natural destiny.

Lafcadio Hearn

A great many things which in times of lesser knowledge we imagined to be superstitious or useless, prove today on examination to have been of immense value to mankind.

Lafcadio Hearn

Perhaps there is an idea among Japanese students that one general difference between Japanese and Western poetry is that the former cultivates short forms and the latter longer ones, gut this is only in part true.

Lafcadio Hearn

Same category

But the gravest difficulty, and perhaps the most important, in poetry meant solely for recitation, is the difficulty of achieving verbal beauty, or rather of making verbal beauty tell.

Lascelles Abercrombie

Frankly, writing poetry for children is plain old fun, and I consider myself blessed to have such a delightful career.

Jack Prelutsky

I wonder if I ever thought of an ideal reader... I guess when I was in my 20s and in New York and maybe even in my early 30s, I would write for my wife Janice... mainly for my poet friends and my wife, who was very smart about poetry.

Kenneth Koch

Journalism is concerned with events, poetry with feelings. Journalism is concerned with the look of the world, poetry with the feel of the world.

Archibald MacLeish

Rap is poetry set to music. But to me it's like a jackhammer.

Bette Midler

We are looking to brands for poetry and for spirituality, because we're not getting those things from our communities or from each other.

Naomi Klein

One of the things that distinguishes poetry from ordinary speech is that in a very few number of words, poetry captures some kind of deep feeling, and rhythm is the way to get there. Rhythm is the way the poetry carries itself.

Edward Hirsch

A poet looks at the world the way a man looks at a woman.

Wallace Stevens
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Have 6 Comment But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or

GDGold D.dragon

Hearn’s assertion that scriptures possess unique aesthetic qualities challenges the narrow view of sacred texts as purely moral guides. I wonder if this recognition of artistry helps bridge cultural divides—allowing readers from different backgrounds to value these works. It also makes me reflect on what constitutes ‘sublime poetry’ in different traditions. Are there common elements across Hebrew, Indian, Persian, and Chinese scriptures that make them universally beautiful, or is beauty culturally relative?

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HPHuyen Phan

I’m struck by Hearn’s ability to appreciate the Bible and other sacred texts beyond their doctrinal importance. It makes me think about how literary analysis and religious reverence can intersect. Can one admire the artistry of scripture without subscribing to its teachings? His observation also raises a question about translation: does the beauty he praises depend on the original language, or can it survive across translations into other tongues?

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TThanhf

This quote emphasizes the dual nature of scripture: as a vessel for religious guidance and as a work of art. I find it compelling that Hearn recognizes the Bible’s literary elegance, putting it on a pedestal alongside other world scriptures. But I’m curious—does appreciating it aesthetically diminish its sacredness, or can both values coexist? Perhaps recognizing poetry and prose in sacred texts enriches rather than detracts from their spiritual impact.

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HLHuy Luoi

Hearn’s comment highlights the universality of beauty in sacred literature, suggesting that artistry transcends belief systems. I wonder how much of a scripture’s influence is due to its literary qualities versus its spiritual authority. Could it be that the enduring power of texts like the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita stems in part from their eloquence and narrative structure? It challenges the notion that sacred works are valuable only for doctrine.

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NBNhon Bao

I find it intriguing that Hearn elevates the original Bible as both poetic and artistic prose. It makes me think about the interplay between spiritual authority and literary craftsmanship. Is he implying that scripture’s aesthetic qualities contribute to its lasting influence? It also makes me curious about how different cultures recognize literary merit in sacred texts—are Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese scriptures appreciated similarly for their artistry?

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