---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My interests drew me in different…"
description: "\"My interests drew me in different directions. On the one hand I was powerfully attracted by science, with its truths based on facts; on the other hand ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg"
---

#  My interests drew me in different directions. On the one…

![“My interests drew me in different directions. On the one hand I was powerfully attracted by science, with its truths based on facts; on the other hand I was fascinated by everything to do with comparative religion. &#91;...&#93; In science I missed the factor of meaning; and in religion, that of empiricism.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg)

> “My interests drew me in different directions. On the one hand I was powerfully attracted by science, with its truths based on facts; on the other hand I was fascinated by everything to do with comparative religion. \[...\] In science I missed the factor of meaning; and in religion, that of empiricism.”

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

## About This Quote

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

Science offers facts; religion offers meaning; both lack the other's strength.

**In simple terms:** Science gives facts, religion gives meaning; each lacks the other.

Key Takeaway

Integrate science and meaning.

Themes

science religion meaning

Mood

curious introspective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- education
- personal growth
- interdisciplinary work

Key Concepts

empiricism spirituality holism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you reconcile empirical truth with spiritual meaning?
- What practices blend science and faith?

A Different Perspective

Balancing both can cause internal conflict.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comparative religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparative-religion/) [Different directions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-directions/) [Empiricism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empiricism/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Memories dreams reflections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories-dreams-reflections/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [Mr. Hillaire Belloc has pointed out that science has changed greatly, and for the worse, since it became popular. Some hundred years ago, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-standen/mr-hillaire-belloc-has-pointed-out-that-science-has-changed-greatly/)

[Anthony Standen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-standen/)

> [I was attracted to science fiction because it was so wide open. I was able to do anything and there were no walls to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-attracted-to-science-fiction-because-it-was-so-wide-open-i-was/)

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

> [I was always attracted to science fiction movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-turner/i-was-always-attracted-to-science-fiction-movies/)

[Tina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-turner/)

> [The seat of faith, however, is not consciousness but spontaneous religious experience, which brings the individual's faith into immediate relation with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-seat-of-faith-however-is-not-consciousness-but-spontaneous/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [The bigger the crowd, the more negligible the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-bigger-the-crowd-the-more-negligible-the-individual/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [I had always been impressed by the fact that there are surprisingly many individuals who never use their minds if they can avoid it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/i-had-always-been-impressed-by-the-fact-that-there-are-surprisingly/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/even-a-happy-life-cannot-be-without-a-measure-of-darkness/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [The unconscious is not just evil by nature, it is also the source of the highest good: not only dark but also light, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-unconscious-is-not-just-evil-by-nature-it-is-also-the-source-of/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Naturally, every age thinks that all ages before it were prejudiced, and today we think this more than ever and are just as wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/naturally-every-age-thinks-that-all-ages-before-it-were-prejudiced/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Observance of customs and laws can very easily be a cloak for a lie so subtle that our fellow human beings are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/observance-of-customs-and-laws-can-very-easily-be-a-cloak-for-a-lie/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Every father is given the opportunity to corrupt his daughter's nature, and the educator, husband, or psychiatrist then has to face the music. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/every-father-is-given-the-opportunity-to-corrupt-his-daughter-s/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [I am astonished, disappointed, pleased with myself. I am distressed, depressed, rapturous. I am all these things at once and cannot add up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/i-am-astonished-disappointed-pleased-with-myself-i-am-distressed/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [All ages before ours believed in gods in some form or other. Only an unparalleled impoverishment in symbolism could enable us to rediscover the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/all-ages-before-ours-believed-in-gods-in-some-form-or-other-only-an/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [It is sad but unfortunately true that man learns nothing from history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-sad-but-unfortunately-true-that-man-learns-nothing-from-history/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

## More by Carl Jung

> [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Metaphysical assertions, however, are statements of the psyche, and are therefore psychological. Whenever the Westerner hears the word “psychological,” it always sounds to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/metaphysical-assertions-however-are-statements-of-the-psyche-and-are/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Like the sea itself, the unconscious yields an endless and self-replenishing abundance of creatures, a wealth beyond our fathoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/like-the-sea-itself-the-unconscious-yields-an-endless-and-self/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Synchronicity reveals the meaningful connections between the subjective and objective world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/synchronicity-reveals-the-meaningful-connections-between-the/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Instinct is like Nature herself - prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/instinct-is-like-nature-herself-prodigiously-conservative-and-yet/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Paul hardly ever allows the real Jesus of Nazareth to get a word in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/paul-hardly-ever-allows-the-real-jesus-of-nazareth-to-get-a-word-in/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [“He would have lived countless times over the life of the individual, of the family, tribe and people, and he would possess the living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/he-would-have-lived-countless-times-over-the-life-of-the-individual/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [People learn from who we are, rather than what we say, and to believe otherwise is a disease of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/people-learn-from-who-we-are-rather-than-what-we-say-and-to-believe/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Neurosis is an inner cleavage-the state of being at war with oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/neurosis-is-an-inner-cleavage-the-state-of-being-at-war-with-oneself/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [It is sad but unfortunately true that man learns nothing from history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-sad-but-unfortunately-true-that-man-learns-nothing-from-history/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [Life is a luminous pause between two mysteries that are yet one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/life-is-a-luminous-pause-between-two-mysteries-that-are-yet-one/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

[Explore all 775 Carl Jung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

## More Comparative religion quotes

> [I am a student of comparative religion, but whatever I read, you scratch a little bit and underneath is the oneness. You call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-tweedie/i-am-a-student-of-comparative-religion-but-whatever-i-read-you/)

[Irina Tweedie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-tweedie/)

> [ “You're right \[Joshua\], I have taught you nothing. I could teach you nothing. Everything that you needed to know was already there. You simply… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-re-right-joshua-i-have-taught-you-nothing-i-could-teach-you/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“Where is the graveyard of dead gods? What lingering mourner waters their mounds? There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/where-is-the-graveyard-of-dead-gods-what-lingering-mourner-waters/)

[H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/)

> [“And when we say also that the Word, who is the first-birth of God, was produced without sexual union, and that He, Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/and-when-we-say-also-that-the-word-who-is-the-first-birth-of-god-was/)

[Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/)

> [“All the three monotheist religions (Jewish, Christianity and Islam)claims that their God (Yahweh, God and Allah) created humans in a similar way: this indicates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-kansal/all-the-three-monotheist-religions-jewish-christianity-and-islam/)

Ajay Kansal

> [Missions is not applied anthropology, comparative religion or sociology. It is storming the gates of hell. It is a power confrontation-h and-to-hand combat with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-p-yohannan/missions-is-not-applied-anthropology-comparative-religion-or/)

[K.P. Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-p-yohannan/)

> [Priests are often well-meaning people who haven't yet looked too thoroughly into comparative religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/priests-are-often-well-meaning-people-who-haven-t-yet-looked-too/)

[Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/)

> [I remember when we had to pick our major freshman year, I chose comparative religion. It came to me out of the blue. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-brenneman/i-remember-when-we-had-to-pick-our-major-freshman-year-i-chose/)

[Amy Brenneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-brenneman/)

> [Comparative religion is an admirable recipe for making people comparatively religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-knox/comparative-religion-is-an-admirable-recipe-for-making-people/)

[Ronald Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-knox/)

> [“The student of Comparative Religions will be able to perceive the influence of the Hermetic Teachings in every religion worthy of the name...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/the-student-of-comparative-religions-will-be-able-to-perceive-the/)

[Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/)

> [“I found it again at last! Page 156 - 157 of \*My Soul to Keep\* by Melanie Wells. Dr. Dylan Foster is thinking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-wells/i-found-it-again-at-last-page-156-157-of-my-soul-to-keep-by-melanie/)

Melanie Wells

> [BY the study of different RELIGIONS we find that in essence they are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/by-the-study-of-different-religions-we-find-that-in-essence-they-are/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [“True strength. There is no conflict with vulnerability or humility. Indeed, vulnerability and humility are essential here, and ultimately what makes strength true. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-calkins/true-strength-there-is-no-conflict-with-vulnerability-or-humility/)

Darrell Calkins

> [I think there in a great deal to be said for religious education in the sense of teaching about religion and biblical literacy. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-think-there-in-a-great-deal-to-be-said-for-religious-education-in/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [I grew up Jewish. I am Jewish. I went to an Episcopal high school. I went to a Baptist college. I've taken every comparative-religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/i-grew-up-jewish-i-am-jewish-i-went-to-an-episcopal-high-school-i/)

[Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/)

[Browse all 24 Comparative religion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparative-religion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My interests drew me in different directions. On the one hand I was powerfully attracted by science, with its truths based on facts; on the other hand I was fascinated by everything to do with comparative religion. [...] In science I missed the factor of meaning; and in religion, that of empiricism.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Carl Jung"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/my-interests-drew-me-in-different-directions-on-the-one-hand-i-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comparative religion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/my-interests-drew-me-in-different-directions-on-the-one-hand-i-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/carl-jung-274_comparative-religion_my-interests-drew-me-in-different-direct_2874555.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My interests drew me in different directions. On the one hand I was powerfully attracted by science, with…” — Carl Jung",
                "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": "Carl Jung",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My interests drew me in different...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/my-interests-drew-me-in-different-directions-on-the-one-hand-i-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/my-interests-drew-me-in-different-directions-on-the-one-hand-i-was/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
