We naturally believe we are more capable of reaching the…
““We naturally believe we are more capable of reaching the centre of things than of embracing their circumference, and the visible extent of the world is visibly greater than we. But since we in our turn are greater than small things, we think we are more capable of mastering them, and yet it takes no less capacity to reach nothingness than the whole. In either case it takes an infinite capacity, and it seems to me that anyone who had understood the ultimate principles of things might also succeed in knowing infinity. One depends on the other, and one leads to the other. These extremes touch and join by going in opposite directions, and they meet in God and God alone.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human understanding of infinity and the divine requires recognizing limits and the paradox of mastering both the small and the vast.
In simple terms: Infinity and God require humility and endless capacity.
Key Takeaway
Seek humility in the quest for knowledge.
Themes
philosophy
theology
metaphysics
Mood
contemplative
humble
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- spiritual practice
- philosophical inquiry
Key Concepts
infinite regress
humility
Questions to Reflect On
- What does humility mean in your learning?
- How do you balance curiosity with acceptance?
A Different Perspective
Human intellect cannot fully grasp the infinite, risking overconfidence.