--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God is that, the greater than which…" description: "\"God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.\" — Anselm of Canterbury" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png" --- # God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived. ![“God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.” quote by Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png) > “God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.” [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) ## 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 asserts that God is the ultimate being, beyond any conceivable greater concept. **In simple terms:** God is the greatest possible being. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of human imagination regarding the divine. Themes theology philosophy metaphysics Mood awe contemplative Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious debate - philosophical study - personal reflection Key Concepts Ontological argument maximal greatness Questions to Reflect On - What does “greater than which cannot be conceived” mean to you? - How does this shape your view of faith? A Different Perspective Humans may struggle to grasp infinite concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canterbury/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“God is a being than which nothing greater can be conceived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-anselm/god-is-a-being-than-which-nothing-greater-can-be-conceived/) St. Anselm > [ And indeed we believe you \[God\] to be something than which a greater cannot be conceived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/and-indeed-we-believe-you-god-to-be-something-than-which-a-greater/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [God was conceived of a most pure Virgin ... it was fitting that the virgin should be radiant with a purity so great that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-was-conceived-of-a-most-pure-virgin-it-was-fitting-that-the/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [I believe in order that I may understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/i-believe-in-order-that-i-may-understand/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [A Prayer of Anselm My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you that I may rejoice in you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/a-prayer-of-anselm-my-god-i-pray-that-i-may-so-know-you-and-love-you/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [I do not know how the affair at Canterbury is generally considered; but I have heard individuals of all parties and all opinions speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/i-do-not-know-how-the-affair-at-canterbury-is-generally-considered/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [It is a really good question. The other day I was praying over something as I was running, and I ended up saying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-welby/it-is-a-really-good-question-the-other-day-i-was-praying-over/) [Justin Welby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-welby/) > [Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whan-that-aprill-with-his-shoures-soote-the-droghte-of-march-hath/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [I read a lot of 'The Canterbury Tales' on my phone last year, because I was cycling between three different editions, and I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-read-a-lot-of-the-canterbury-tales-on-my-phone-last-year-because-i/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [In a real world, the one outside the rarified atmosphere where Popes meet Archbishops of Canterbury, people no longer care whether somebody is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/in-a-real-world-the-one-outside-the-rarified-atmosphere-where-popes/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [One person I do feel a little sorry for, though, is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most important clergyman in Britain and he's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-condell/one-person-i-do-feel-a-little-sorry-for-though-is-the-archbishop-of/) [Pat Condell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-condell/) > [England is so defined, the class system, your education. I think what was unique about the Canterbury scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ayers/england-is-so-defined-the-class-system-your-education-i-think-what/) [Kevin Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ayers/) > [St George won 11 premierships with one Raper, imagine how Canterbury will go with 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-lockyer/st-george-won-11-premierships-with-one-raper-imagine-how-canterbury/) Darren Lockyer > [The desert could not be claimed or owned — it was a piece of cloth carried by winds, never held down by stones, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/the-desert-could-not-be-claimed-or-owned-it-was-a-piece-of-cloth/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## More by Anselm of Canterbury > [Let no worldly prosperity divert you, nor any worldly adversity restrain you from His praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/let-no-worldly-prosperity-divert-you-nor-any-worldly-adversity/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Remove grace, and you have nothing whereby to be saved. Remove free will and you have nothing that could be saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/remove-grace-and-you-have-nothing-whereby-to-be-saved-remove-free/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Thus you are just not because you give what is owed, but because you do what is appropriate to you as the highest good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/thus-you-are-just-not-because-you-give-what-is-owed-but-because-you/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [It is impossible to save one's soul without devotion to Mary and without her protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/it-is-impossible-to-save-one-s-soul-without-devotion-to-mary-and/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [If it can be conceived at all - it must exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/if-it-can-be-conceived-at-all-it-must-exist/) [Anselm Of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [A Prayer of Anselm My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you that I may rejoice in you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/a-prayer-of-anselm-my-god-i-pray-that-i-may-so-know-you-and-love-you/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [God often works more by the life of the illiterate seeking the things that are God's, than by the ability of the learned seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-often-works-more-by-the-life-of-the-illiterate-seeking-the-things/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Therefore Lord, not only are you that than which a greater cannot be thought but you are also something greater than can be thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/therefore-lord-not-only-are-you-that-than-which-a-greater-cannot-be/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [God does not delay to hear our prayers because He has no mind to give; but that, by enlarging our desires, He may give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-does-not-delay-to-hear-our-prayers-because-he-has-no-mind-to-give/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [God hath promised pardon to him that repenteth, but he hath not promised repentance to him that sinneth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-hath-promised-pardon-to-him-that-repenteth-but-he-hath-not/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [ And indeed we believe you \[God\] to be something than which a greater cannot be conceived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/and-indeed-we-believe-you-god-to-be-something-than-which-a-greater/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Disasters teach us humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/disasters-teach-us-humility/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [I believe in order that I may understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/i-believe-in-order-that-i-may-understand/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Therefore Lord God, you are more truly omnipotent, because you have no power through impotence and nothing can be against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/therefore-lord-god-you-are-more-truly-omnipotent-because-you-have-no/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [For I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/for-i-do-not-seek-to-understand-in-order-to-believe-but-i-believe-in/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) [Explore all 26 Anselm of Canterbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) ## More Canterbury quotes > [St George won 11 premierships with one Raper, imagine how Canterbury will go with 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-lockyer/st-george-won-11-premierships-with-one-raper-imagine-how-canterbury/) Darren Lockyer > [One person I do feel a little sorry for, though, is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most important clergyman in Britain and he's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-condell/one-person-i-do-feel-a-little-sorry-for-though-is-the-archbishop-of/) [Pat Condell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-condell/) > [I do not know how the affair at Canterbury is generally considered; but I have heard individuals of all parties and all opinions speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-m-child/i-do-not-know-how-the-affair-at-canterbury-is-generally-considered/) [Lydia M. Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-m-child/) > [Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whan-that-aprill-with-his-shoures-soote-the-droghte-of-march-hath/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [It is a really good question. The other day I was praying over something as I was running, and I ended up saying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-welby/it-is-a-really-good-question-the-other-day-i-was-praying-over/) [Justin Welby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-welby/) > [A Prayer of Anselm My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you that I may rejoice in you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/a-prayer-of-anselm-my-god-i-pray-that-i-may-so-know-you-and-love-you/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [The desert could not be claimed or owned — it was a piece of cloth carried by winds, never held down by stones, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/the-desert-could-not-be-claimed-or-owned-it-was-a-piece-of-cloth/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I read a lot of 'The Canterbury Tales' on my phone last year, because I was cycling between three different editions, and I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-read-a-lot-of-the-canterbury-tales-on-my-phone-last-year-because-i/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [In a real world, the one outside the rarified atmosphere where Popes meet Archbishops of Canterbury, people no longer care whether somebody is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/in-a-real-world-the-one-outside-the-rarified-atmosphere-where-popes/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [I believe in order that I may understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/i-believe-in-order-that-i-may-understand/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [England is so defined, the class system, your education. I think what was unique about the Canterbury scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ayers/england-is-so-defined-the-class-system-your-education-i-think-what/) [Kevin Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ayers/) > [What's the greatest enemy of Christianity to-day? Frozen meat. In the past only members of the upper classes were thoroughly sceptical, despairing, negative. Why?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-s-the-greatest-enemy-of-christianity-to-day-frozen-meat-in-the/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Is the Church of England an Anglican church? The church did not start in Canterbury, the church did not start in Rome. Whether Canterbury…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-akinola/is-the-church-of-england-an-anglican-church-the-church-did-not-start/) [Peter Akinola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-akinola/) > [This is to be observed of the Bishop of London, that, though apparently of a spirit somewhat austere, there is in his idiosyncrasy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/this-is-to-be-observed-of-the-bishop-of-london-that-though-apparently/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [We are not responsible for the behavior of anyone that goes contrary to what we teach, any more than the Pope of Rome or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/we-are-not-responsible-for-the-behavior-of-anyone-that-goes-contrary/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) [Browse all 20 Canterbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canterbury/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anselm of Canterbury" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-cannot-be-conceived/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Canterbury" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-cannot-be-conceived/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/anselm-of-canterbury-23059_canterbury_god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-canno_3106796.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.” — Anselm of Canterbury", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anselm of Canterbury", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "God is that, the greater than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-cannot-be-conceived/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/god-is-that-the-greater-than-which-cannot-be-conceived/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```