--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can you know God if you don't know…" description: "\"How can you know God if you don't know your big toe?\" — B.K.S. Iyengar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/b-k-s-iyengar-949_bigs_how-can-you-know-god-if-you-don-t-know-y_1369468.png" --- # How can you know God if you don't know your big toe? ![“How can you know God if you don't know your big toe?” quote by B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/b-k-s-iyengar-949_bigs_how-can-you-know-god-if-you-don-t-know-y_1369468.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/b-k-s-iyengar-949_bigs_how-can-you-know-god-if-you-don-t-know-y_1369468.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b1/b-k-s-iyengar-949_bigs_how-can-you-know-god-if-you-don-t-know-y_1369468.png) > “How can you know God if you don't know your big toe?” [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding oneself is prerequisite to perceiving the divine; without self‑knowledge, spiritual insight is limited. **In simple terms:** Know yourself to know God. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness before seeking higher truths. Themes self‑knowledge spirituality humility Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - personal reflection - spiritual study - therapy - coaching Key Concepts philosophy theology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does personal awareness shape your view of the sacred? - What practices deepen self‑understanding? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge alone may not guarantee divine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) ## Related quotes > [When I was young I found out that the big toe always ends up making a hole in a sock. So I stopped wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/when-i-was-young-i-found-out-that-the-big-toe-always-ends-up-making-a/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I know God exits, but I don't know where.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/i-know-god-exits-but-i-don-t-know-where/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“I noted that he had a new type of sandal to go with his clothes—they had a special strap circling the big toe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-george/i-noted-that-he-had-a-new-type-of-sandal-to-go-with-his-clothes-they/) [Margaret George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-george/) > [My big toe alone is the size of Yorkshire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-marr/my-big-toe-alone-is-the-size-of-yorkshire/) [Andrew Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-marr/) > [I devised the Bert Lance Toe Test then - you go out on the front porch of the house, turn 'The Washington Post' over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lance/i-devised-the-bert-lance-toe-test-then-you-go-out-on-the-front-porch/) [Bert Lance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lance/) > [The Army needs leaders the way a foot needs a big toe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/the-army-needs-leaders-the-way-a-foot-needs-a-big-toe/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [My sexuality, in terms of 'Strictly' or whatever else I do in my life, ought to be as irrelevant as the length of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/my-sexuality-in-terms-of-strictly-or-whatever-else-i-do-in-my-life/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [“It made my big toe shoot up in my boot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-richard/it-made-my-big-toe-shoot-up-in-my-boot/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-richard/) > [“Then I got this image of my big toe, painted bright red, suddenly developing a face and a hot Southern temper to match, screaming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/then-i-got-this-image-of-my-big-toe-painted-bright-red-suddenly/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [Someone asked me what part of the body is the most important to be strong - it's the big toe. The big toe especially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-glenn/someone-asked-me-what-part-of-the-body-is-the-most-important-to-be/) [Scott Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-glenn/) > [You remind me of my big toe. Mainly, because I am going to bang you on every piece of furniture I own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-remind-me-of-my-big-toe-mainly-because-i-am-going-to-bang-you-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Girl you look sexy in those heels, but your big toe is hanging out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/girl-you-look-sexy-in-those-heels-but-your-big-toe-is-hanging-out/) [Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [“I went for a walk and I stubbed my big toe. And my erection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-went-for-a-walk-and-i-stubbed-my-big-toe-and-my-erection/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Every summer in my old area, Bow, these kids from across the road used to bring out quad bikes in the park. They let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/every-summer-in-my-old-area-bow-these-kids-from-across-the-road-used/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [We should bathe our spirits in the deep, pure feeling that stirs within us when we gaze on the glories of His creation. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/we-should-bathe-our-spirits-in-the-deep-pure-feeling-that-stirs/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) ## More by B.K.S. Iyengar > [It is through the body that everything comes to the mind. It is through and with your body that you have to reach realization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/it-is-through-the-body-that-everything-comes-to-the-mind-it-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [A yogi's brain extends from the bottom of the foot to the top of his head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/a-yogi-s-brain-extends-from-the-bottom-of-the-foot-to-the-top-of-his/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Is it necessary to practice all these asanas, further and further? Is it necessary to develop scientific researches further and further? To a yogi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/is-it-necessary-to-practice-all-these-asanas-further-and-further-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The best way to overcome fear is to face with equanimity the situation of which one is afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-best-way-to-overcome-fear-is-to-face-with-equanimity-the/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [You have to create love and affection for your body, for what it can do for you. Love must be incarnated in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/you-have-to-create-love-and-affection-for-your-body-for-what-it-can/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [In whatever position one is in, or in whatever condition in life one is placed, one must find balance. Balance is the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/in-whatever-position-one-is-in-or-in-whatever-condition-in-life-one/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Learning is as much an art as teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/learning-is-as-much-an-art-as-teaching/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Why should you practice Yoga? To kindle the divine fire within yourself. Everyone has a dormant spark of divinity in him which has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/why-should-you-practice-yoga-to-kindle-the-divine-fire-within/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Yoga is the method by which the restless mind is calmed And the energy directed into constructive channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/yoga-is-the-method-by-which-the-restless-mind-is-calmed-and-the/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The aim of yoga is to calm the chaos of conflicting impulses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-aim-of-yoga-is-to-calm-the-chaos-of-conflicting-impulses/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Live before you die, so that death is also a lively celebration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/live-before-you-die-so-that-death-is-also-a-lively-celebration/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [We have two physical eyes, but every pore of the body is also an eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/we-have-two-physical-eyes-but-every-pore-of-the-body-is-also-an-eye/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Breath is the vehicle of consciousness and so, by its slow measured observation and distribution, we learn to tug our attention away from external…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/breath-is-the-vehicle-of-consciousness-and-so-by-its-slow-measured/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Yoga releases the creative potential in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/yoga-releases-the-creative-potential-in-life/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Do not live in the future, only the present is real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/do-not-live-in-the-future-only-the-present-is-real/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) [Explore all 322 B.K.S. Iyengar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How can you know God if you don't know your big toe?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B.K.S. 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