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The severe schools shall never laugh me out of the…

“The severe schools shall never laugh me out of the philosophy of Hermes, that this visible world is but a picture of the invisible, wherein as in a portrait, things are not truly, but in equivocal shapes, and as they counterfeit some real substance in that invisible fabric.” quote by Thomas Browne
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“The severe schools shall never laugh me out of the philosophy of Hermes, that this visible world is but a picture of the invisible, wherein as in a portrait, things are not truly, but in equivocal shapes, and as they counterfeit some real substance in that invisible fabric.”

Thomas Browne

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The material world is only a faint representation of a deeper, unseen reality, like a portrait that hints at hidden substance.

In simple terms: Visible world is a picture of hidden truth.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper meaning beyond appearances.

Themes

philosophy perception reality

Mood

contemplative inquisitive

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • Art critique
  • spiritual practice
  • scientific inquiry
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

Metaphysics illusion duality

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you distinguish appearance from truth?
  • What hidden layers might you be overlooking?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify complex philosophical ideas.

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