[Ads-l] "we become what we behold" (ancient?)

[Stephen Goranson]

"This fact may be because, as an ancient adage puts it, we become what we behold." [1]
Is that an ancient adage?

It reminded me of William Blake, Jerusalem (circa 1804-8):
"Strucken with Albion's disease they become what they behold...." [2]

John Jebb (1775-1833), Sermons...(1816, and maybe 1st ed. 1815):
"....we shall become what we behold..." [3]
(I guess it unlikely that Bishop Jebb had read Blake's engraved book.)

John Ruysbroeck (14th century), translated, as said to be quoted by Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism:
"We behold that which we are, and we are that which we behold." [4]

Stephen Goranson


[1] https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-quest-for-the-holy-grail-on-diana-pasulkas-american-cosmic-ufos-religion-technology/#!

[2] https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101068138369&view=1up&seq=79

[3] https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt/search?q1=%22become+what+we+behold%22&id=uiug.30112065777267&view=1up&seq=7

[4] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Ruysbroeck



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