It is sufficiently humiliating to our nature to reflect…
“It is sufficiently humiliating to our nature to reflect that our knowledge is but as she rivulet, our ignorance as the sea. On points of the highest interest, the moment we quit the light of revelation we shall find that Platonism itself is intimately connected with Pyrrhonism, and the deepest inquiry with the darkest doubt.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Our knowledge is a tiny stream compared to the vast sea of ignorance; abandoning insight leads to doubt, linking rationalism with skepticism.
In simple terms: Knowledge is small, ignorance huge; losing insight invites doubt.
Key Takeaway
Seek continual learning to avoid doubt.
Themes
knowledge
ignorance
philosophy
skepticism
Mood
inquisitive
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal growth
- intellectual debates
Key Concepts
epistemology
Pyrrhonism
Platonism
Questions to Reflect On
- What areas of knowledge feel like a stream?
- How do you handle uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
Doubt can motivate deeper inquiry.