--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is what is ultimate in our human…" description: "\"This is what is ultimate in our human knowledge of God, to know that we do not know.\" — Anthony de Mello" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png" --- # This is what is ultimate in our human knowledge of God, to… ![“This is what is ultimate in our human knowledge of God, to know that we do not know.” quote by Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png) > “This is what is ultimate in our human knowledge of God, to know that we do not know.” [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom lies in recognizing our own ignorance about God. **In simple terms:** Know that we don’t know God. Key Takeaway Embrace humility in spiritual seeking. Themes spirituality humility knowledge Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - theological study - personal reflection Key Concepts agnosticism self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging ignorance foster growth? - What role does faith play without certainty? A Different Perspective May be seen as discouraging certainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-know/) [Human knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-knowledge/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-god/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) ## Related quotes > [“The majority con- sensus, however, reached eventually was again expressed clearly and forcefully by al-Ghazzâlî: “The knowledge about (ma- rifah) God is the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/the-majority-con-sensus-however-reached-eventually-was-again/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a world where everybody said, 'We don't know?' The fact is that you're surrounded -God and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/wouldn-t-it-be-wonderful-if-we-had-a-world-where-everybody-said-we/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“True and sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/true-and-sound-wisdom-consists-of-two-parts-the-knowledge-of-god-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Of all knowledge, the knowledge of God is the principal. There is no true knowledge without godliness (cp. Deu 4: 6, 7).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bridges/of-all-knowledge-the-knowledge-of-god-is-the-principal-there-is-no/) [Charles Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bridges/) > [“The knowledge of God is a sacred pursuit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-knowledge-of-god-is-a-sacred-pursuit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 1o) can he interpreted mystically in such a way that the question of the knowledge of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/the-story-of-the-good-samaritan-luke-1o-can-he-interpreted-mystically/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [Certainly it does make the greatest possible difference what we think about God; the knowledge of God is the very basis of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/certainly-it-does-make-the-greatest-possible-difference-what-we-think/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [“Knowlege of God without knowledge of man's wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man's wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/knowlege-of-god-without-knowledge-of-man-s-wretchedness-leads-to/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [A little knowledge OF God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge ABOUT him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/a-little-knowledge-of-god-is-worth-more-than-a-great-deal-of/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-knowledge-of-god-is-very-far-from-the-love-of-him/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“No matter how hard people work to suppress their knowledge of God, creation itself keeps challenging them. “Human life is a continual wrestling match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/no-matter-how-hard-people-work-to-suppress-their-knowledge-of-god/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [We find the instrument for the Knowledge of God in ourselves But we find God everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/we-find-the-instrument-for-the-knowledge-of-god-in-ourselves-but-we/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [The sum total of all possible knowledge of God is not possible for a human being, not even through a true revelation. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-sum-total-of-all-possible-knowledge-of-god-is-not-possible-for-a/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“You do not say someone is holy because he puts forth great ideas concerning the knowledge of God and the attributes of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/you-do-not-say-someone-is-holy-because-he-puts-forth-great-ideas/) [Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/) ## More by Anthony de Mello > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You only change what you understand. What you do not understand and are not aware of, you repress. You dont change. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-only-change-what-you-understand-what-you-do-not-understand-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-who-i-is-or-what-i-is-you-ll-never/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [And increasingly - you know this and so do I we're losing the youth everywhere. They hate us; they are not interested in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-increasingly-you-know-this-and-so-do-i-we-re-losing-the-youth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Spirituality practiced in the state of activity is incomparably superior to that practiced in a state of withdrawel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/spirituality-practiced-in-the-state-of-activity-is-incomparably/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know, all mystics - Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion - are unanimous on one thing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-know-all-mystics-catholic-christian-non-christian-no-matter-what/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. 'Obedience keeps the rules,' he would say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-were-rules-in-the-monastery-but-the-master-always-warned/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-disciple-in-his-reverence-for-the-master-looked-upon-him-as-god/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-don-t-have-to-add-anything-in-order-to-be-happy-you-ve-got-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Rare indeed, is the relationship in which the other is not cultivated for what one can get for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/rare-indeed-is-the-relationship-in-which-the-other-is-not-cultivated/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) [Explore all 253 Anthony de Mello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is what is ultimate in our human knowledge of God, to know that we do not know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony de Mello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-knowledge-of-god-to-know-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-knowledge-of-god-to-know-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b63/anthony-de-mello-1331_god_this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-kn_779026.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is what is ultimate in our human knowledge of God, to know that we do not know.” — Anthony de Mello", "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": "Anthony de Mello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is what is ultimate in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-knowledge-of-god-to-know-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/this-is-what-is-ultimate-in-our-human-knowledge-of-god-to-know-that/#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 } } ] } ```