--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At present we can only reason of the…" description: "\"At present we can only reason of the divine justice from what we know of justice in man. When we are in other scenes, we may have truer and nobler idea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/alexander-pope-235_divine_at-present-we-can-only-reason-of-the-div_1314947.png" --- # At present we can only reason of the divine justice from… ![“At present we can only reason of the divine justice from what we know of justice in man. When we are in other scenes, we may have truer and nobler ideas of it; but while we are in this life, we can only speak from the volume that is laid open before us.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/alexander-pope-235_divine_at-present-we-can-only-reason-of-the-div_1314947.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/alexander-pope-235_divine_at-present-we-can-only-reason-of-the-div_1314947.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/alexander-pope-235_divine_at-present-we-can-only-reason-of-the-div_1314947.png) > “At present we can only reason of the divine justice from what we know of justice in man. When we are in other scenes, we may have truer and nobler ideas of it; but while we are in this life, we can only speak from the volume that is laid open before us.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## 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 of divine justice is limited to our experience of human justice; broader truths may emerge beyond our current perspective. **In simple terms:** We can only judge divine justice by human standards. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of our perspective. Themes philosophy theology justice humility knowledge Mood thoughtful humble inquisitive Type poetic philosophical theological When to use this quote - ethical debates - theological study - personal moral reasoning - cross‑cultural dialogue Key Concepts epistemology divine justice human limitation Questions to Reflect On - What can we learn from human justice? - How do we avoid projecting our biases onto the divine? A Different Perspective Human concepts may misrepresent divine reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-justice/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) ## Related quotes > [America is such a mess right now, and it's getting worse all the time. 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I have seen what lies there. I know what lives in your minds. I know right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dwell-in-the-caves-in-your-heart-i-have-seen-what-lies-there-i-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You’re strong enough to stand up to anyone. Smart enough to do anything you want. Don’t sell yourself short; don’t be afraid of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/you-re-strong-enough-to-stand-up-to-anyone-smart-enough-to-do/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/if-one-really-wishes-to-know-how-justice-is-administered-in-a-country/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Many suffer so that some day all Irish people may know justice and peace..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfe-tone/many-suffer-so-that-some-day-all-irish-people-may-know-justice-and/) [Wolfe Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfe-tone/) > [“For our children-not your children, but ours-the children of the poor gentlemen looked down upon by everyone-know what justice means, sir, even at nine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/for-our-children-not-your-children-but-ours-the-children-of-the-poor/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“They all knew the verdict in advance and they knew its reason; no other reason had existed for years, where no standards, save whim,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/they-all-knew-the-verdict-in-advance-and-they-knew-its-reason-no/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“As for me, all I know is that I know nothing, for when I don't know what justice is, I'll hardly know whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/as-for-me-all-i-know-is-that-i-know-nothing-for-when-i-don-t-know/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If you wish to know what justice is, let injustice pursue you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-maria-de-hostos/if-you-wish-to-know-what-justice-is-let-injustice-pursue-you/) [Eugenio Maria de Hostos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-maria-de-hostos/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Divine quotes > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I take the seashell from my jeans pocket and rub my fingers across its silken, indented surface, shallow as my own open hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/i-take-the-seashell-from-my-jeans-pocket-and-rub-my-fingers-across/) [Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“Monsters are divine portents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/monsters-are-divine-portents/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. 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