I have not failed. My success is just postponed.
Reverence (
/ˈrɛvərəns/) is "a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration".
[1] The word "reverence" in the modern day is often used in relationship with
religion. This is because religion often stimulates the emotion through recognition of
God, the
supernatural, and the
ineffable. Reverence involves a humbling of the self in respectful recognition of something perceived to be greater than the self. Thus religion is commonly a place where reverence is felt.
However, similar to
awe, reverence is an emotion in its own right, and can be felt outside of the realm of
religion.
[2] Whereas awe may be characterized as an overwhelming "
sensitivity to greatness," reverence is seen more as "acknowledging a
subjective response to something
excellent in a personal (
moral or
spiritual) way, but qualitatively above oneself"
[3] Solomon describes awe as passive, but reverence as active, noting that the
feeling of awe (i.e., becoming awestruck) implies
paralysis, whereas feelings of reverence are associated more with active
engagement and responsibility toward that which one reveres.
[4] Nature,
science,
literature,
philosophy, great
philosophers,
leaders,
artists,
art,
music,
wisdom, and
beauty may each act as the stimulus and focus of reverence.
