--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It appears to me that it [sin] is simply…" description: "\"“It appears to me that it [sin] is simply an attempt to penetrate into another and higher sphere in a forbidden manner. You can understand why it is so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/arthur-machen-11940_the-white-people_it-appears-to-me-that-it-sin-is-simply-a_873954.jpg" --- # It appears to me that it \[sin\] is simply an attempt to… ![“It appears to me that it [sin] is simply an attempt to penetrate into another and higher sphere in a forbidden manner. You can understand why it is so rare. They are few, indeed, who wish to penetrate into higher spheres, higher or lower, in ways allowed or forbidden. Men, in the mass, are amply…” quote by Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/arthur-machen-11940_the-white-people_it-appears-to-me-that-it-sin-is-simply-a_873954.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/arthur-machen-11940_the-white-people_it-appears-to-me-that-it-sin-is-simply-a_873954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/arthur-machen-11940_the-white-people_it-appears-to-me-that-it-sin-is-simply-a_873954.jpg) > ““It appears to me that it \[sin\] is simply an attempt to penetrate into another and higher sphere in a forbidden manner. You can understand why it is so rare. They are few, indeed, who wish to penetrate into higher spheres, higher or lower, in ways allowed or forbidden. Men, in the mass, are amply content with life as they find it. Therefore there are few saints, and sinners (in the proper sense) are fewer still, and men of genius, who partake sometimes of each character, are rare also. Yes, on the whole , it is, perhaps, harder to be a great sinner than a great saint.”” [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sin is portrayed as a rare, daring attempt to breach forbidden realms, making true sin rarer than sainthood. **In simple terms:** Sin is a daring, forbidden reach beyond normal limits. Key Takeaway Recognize the rarity and risk of transgression. Themes morality transgression human nature Mood reflective serious thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - ethical debates - personal growth - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophical existential theology Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to cross forbidden boundaries? - Can sin ever be justified? A Different Perspective The view may oversimplify complex moral behavior and ignore social factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appears Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appears-sin-982496/) [Great Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-sinner-306151/) [Saints Sinners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saints-sinners-316675/) [Sin Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-simply-982497/) [Sinner Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner-great-982495/) ## Related quotes > [ It appears to me that it \[sin\] is simply an attempt to penetrate into another and higher sphere in a forbidden manner. 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Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“All problems are not results of sin; many are simply results of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-arterburn/all-problems-are-not-results-of-sin-many-are-simply-results-of-reality/) [Stephen Arterburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-arterburn/) > [Radically and basically, all sin is simply ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/radically-and-basically-all-sin-is-simply-ingratitude/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“He had never thought himself a great sinner before but he saw now that his true depravity had been hidden from him lest it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/he-had-never-thought-himself-a-great-sinner-before-but-he-saw-now/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [I am a great Sinner and God is a great Savior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/i-am-a-great-sinner-and-god-is-a-great-savior/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [However great a sinner may have been, if he shows himself devout to Mary he will never perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-of-poitiers/however-great-a-sinner-may-have-been-if-he-shows-himself-devout-to/) [Hilary of Poitiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-of-poitiers/) > [Since I am a great sinner, I cannot reject those who have been, provided they have good will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/since-i-am-a-great-sinner-i-cannot-reject-those-who-have-been/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/although-my-memory-s-fading-i-remember-two-things-very-clearly-i-am-a/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [It is a good thing to be a great sinner. 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I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/) [Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/) ## More by Arthur Machen > [We both wondered whether these contradictions that one can't avoid if one begins to think of time and space may not really be proofs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/we-both-wondered-whether-these-contradictions-that-one-can-t-avoid-if/) [Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/) > [The saint endeavors to recover a gift which he has lost; the sinner tries to obtain something which was never his. 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