All our progress is an unfolding, like a vegetable bud…
“All our progress is an unfolding, like a vegetable bud. You have first an instinct, then an opinion, then a knowledge as the plant has root, bud, and fruit. Trust the instinct to the end, though you can render no reason.”
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 develops in stages like a plant: instinct, opinion, then knowledge, urging trust in intuition even without rational proof.
In simple terms: Understanding grows from instinct to knowledge.
Trust your gut before seeking logical justification.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- creative work
- learning new skills
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you follow instinct over analysis?
- How can you balance intuition with reason?
Overreliance on instinct may ignore necessary evidence.