---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyone who wants to look at sunlight…"
description: "\"Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that on wh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg"
---

#  Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his…

![“Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that on which he looks; and a person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in order to do so.” quote by Athanasius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg)

> “Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that on which he looks; and a person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in order to do so.”

[Athanasius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/)

## About This Quote

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

To truly perceive something, one must first clear their vision, both literally and metaphorically, seeking a pure approximation of the object of focus.

**In simple terms:** Clear your eyes to see clearly.

Key Takeaway

Seek clarity before judgment.

Themes

perception clarity philosophy

Mood

contemplative inquisitive

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- scientific research
- artistic creation
- decision making

Key Concepts

epistemology observation truth

Questions to Reflect On

- What mental “dust” obscures your view?
- How can you ensure a purer perception?

A Different Perspective

Our biases often cloud clarity despite attempts to clear vision.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Purity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purity/) [Sunlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunlight/) [Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/)

## Related quotes

> [“Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/do-not-despair-do-not-give-up-look-for-the-sunlight-through-the-clouds/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [Look for the Sunlight through the Clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/look-for-the-sunlight-through-the-clouds/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [If you are burned, you are naturally anxious to see what your face looks like as soon as they take the bandages off. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-you-are-burned-you-are-naturally-anxious-to-see-what-your-face/)

[Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/)

> [Romanceàcomes naturally. So, please show your girl that you love...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/romance-comes-naturally-so-please-show-your-girl-that-you-love/)

[Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/)

> [Surrender is learning to get out of the way of what wants to happen naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penney-peirce/surrender-is-learning-to-get-out-of-the-way-of-what-wants-to-happen/)

[Penney Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penney-peirce/)

> [I was naturally opinionated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-soubry/i-was-naturally-opinionated/)

[Anna Soubry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-soubry/)

> [ \[...\] things most people do naturally are often inexplicably difficult for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/things-most-people-do-naturally-are-often-inexplicably-difficult-for/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [When things don't come so naturally to you, you want to persevere, you want to keep pushing yourself to overcome obstacles that prevent you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/when-things-don-t-come-so-naturally-to-you-you-want-to-persevere-you/)

[Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/)

> [I just can't think how I would go on without children having lost Edith already... It's too upsetting for me to write about them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-frank/i-just-can-t-think-how-i-would-go-on-without-children-having-lost/)

[Otto Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-frank/)

> [I'm every woman. It's all in me...Anything you want done baby, I do it naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-houston/i-m-every-woman-it-s-all-in-me-anything-you-want-done-baby-i-do-it/)

[Whitney Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-houston/)

> [A lifetime of low calories has come naturally to the longest-lived people in the world... in the Japanese archipelago of Okinawa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/a-lifetime-of-low-calories-has-come-naturally-to-the-longest-lived/)

[S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/)

> [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/)

[Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/)

> [I am naturally a thin person and I am 5'1" and putting on five or 10 pounds, that looks like a lot on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-am-naturally-a-thin-person-and-i-am-5-1-and-putting-on-five-or-10/)

[Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/)

> [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Athanasius

> [The Son of God became man so that we might become God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/the-son-of-god-became-man-so-that-we-might-become-god/)

[Athanasius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/)

> [“He became what we are so that he might make us what he is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/he-became-what-we-are-so-that-he-might-make-us-what-he-is/)

[Athanasius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/)

> [“It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/it-is-a-good-rule-after-reading-a-new-book-never-to-allow-yourself/)

[Athanasius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/)

> [One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a pure mind and is trying to imitate their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/one-cannot-possibly-understand-the-teaching-of-the-saints-unless-one/)

[Athanasius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/)

[Explore all 5 Athanasius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/)

## More Any quotes

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [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/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/)

[Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/)

> [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/)

[Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/)

> [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/)

[Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/)

> [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/)

[Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/)

> [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/)

[Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/)

[Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

Browse all 6,938 Any quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that on which he looks; and a person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in order to do so.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Athanasius"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-naturally-wipes-his-eye-clear/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Any"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-naturally-wipes-his-eye-clear/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71b/athanasius-59674_any_anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-nat_1999710.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate…” — Athanasius",
                "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": "Athanasius",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athanasius/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Anyone who wants to look at...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-naturally-wipes-his-eye-clear/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athanasius/anyone-who-wants-to-look-at-sunlight-naturally-wipes-his-eye-clear/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
