The only idea man can affix to the name of God, is that of…
“The only idea man can affix to the name of God, is that of a first cause, the cause of all things. And, incomprehensibly difficult as it is for a man to conceive what a first cause is, he arrives at the belief of it, from the tenfold greater difficulty of disbelieving it. It is difficult beyond description to conceive that space can have no end; but it is more difficult to conceive an end. It is difficult beyond the power of man to conceive an eternal duration of what we call time; but it is more impossible to conceive a time when there shall be no time.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that belief in a first cause (God) stems from the difficulty of imagining both an infinite beginning and an infinite end, making the concept of God a mental shortcut for unknowable extremes.
In simple terms: People accept God because infinite concepts are hard to grasp.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of human reasoning about eternity.
Themes
philosophy
theology
cognitive bias
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- debates on existence
- personal reflection
- academic lectures
Key Concepts
first cause
infinite regress
mental shortcuts
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do we make about the unknowable?
- How do we handle concepts beyond human comprehension?
A Different Perspective
The argument may oversimplify complex theological and philosophical positions.