---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being is transcended by a concern for…"
description: "\"Being is transcended by a concern for being. Our perplexity will not be solved by relating human existence to a timeless, subpersonal abstraction which..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_abstraction_being-is-transcended-by-a-concern-for-be_1385523.jpg"
---

#  Being is transcended by a concern for being. Our…

![“Being is transcended by a concern for being. Our perplexity will not be solved by relating human existence to a timeless, subpersonal abstraction which we call essence. We can do justice to human being only by relating it to the transcendent care for being.” quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_abstraction_being-is-transcended-by-a-concern-for-be_1385523.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_abstraction_being-is-transcended-by-a-concern-for-be_1385523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66e/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_abstraction_being-is-transcended-by-a-concern-for-be_1385523.jpg)

> “Being is transcended by a concern for being. Our perplexity will not be solved by relating human existence to a timeless, subpersonal abstraction which we call essence. We can do justice to human being only by relating it to the transcendent care for being.”

[Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/)

## About This Quote

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

Human existence must be understood through concrete care and responsibility, not abstract timeless essence.

**In simple terms:** Care for others defines humanity.

Key Takeaway

Focus on compassionate action.

Themes

ethics existentialism responsibility

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- social work
- counseling
- community service
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

transcendence humanism care ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you translate abstract values into daily actions?
- What concrete care can you offer today?

A Different Perspective

Abstract concepts can distract from practical compassion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abstraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstraction/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Perplexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perplexity/) [Relating Transcendent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relating-transcendent-4812907/) [Timeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timeless/) [Transcended Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcended-concern-4812908/) [Transcendent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcendent/)

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> [“But the recurrent ambiguity of the American tale of the supernatural reveals both a fascination with the possibility of numinous experience and a perplexity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-kerr/but-the-recurrent-ambiguity-of-the-american-tale-of-the-supernatural/)

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## More by Abraham Joshua Heschel

> [“The primitive mind finds it hard to realize an idea without the aid of imagination, and it is the realm of space where imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-primitive-mind-finds-it-hard-to-realize-an-idea-without-the-aid/)

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> [Ultimately there is no power to narcissistic, self-indulgent thinking. Authentic thinking originates with an encounter with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/ultimately-there-is-no-power-to-narcissistic-self-indulgent-thinking/)

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