--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is absolutely impossible at the same…" description: "\"It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man of understanding and not to be ashamed to gratify the body.\" — Clement of Alexandria" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png" --- # It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man… ![“It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man of understanding and not to be ashamed to gratify the body.” quote by Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png) > “It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man of understanding and not to be ashamed to gratify the body.” [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding without moral shame leads to indulgence, contradicting true wisdom. **In simple terms:** Know yourself, yet stay modest about bodily desires. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility alongside knowledge. Themes ethics humility body self-awareness Mood contemplative serious Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - diet choices - sexual behavior - self-control Key Concepts moral philosophy spiritual discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile desire with virtue? - What practices foster modesty? A Different Perspective Human nature includes bodily urges; balance is key. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [Now, being a girl, I was ashamed of my body and my lack of strength. So I tried to be a man. I shot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-smedley/now-being-a-girl-i-was-ashamed-of-my-body-and-my-lack-of-strength-so/) [Agnes Smedley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-smedley/) > [A man has no reason to be ashamed of having an ape for his grandfather. If there were an ancestor whom I should feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/a-man-has-no-reason-to-be-ashamed-of-having-an-ape-for-his/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [What a great thing is understanding! It is priceless. No man can give greater pleasure to his fellow man than by understanding him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/what-a-great-thing-is-understanding-it-is-priceless-no-man-can-give/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to affirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/it-is-no-proof-of-a-man-s-understanding-to-be-able-to-affirm-whatever/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [The Greatest Gift a man can have is an Understanding Woman in His Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/the-greatest-gift-a-man-can-have-is-an-understanding-woman-in-his-life/) Frenchqueen > [The man of understanding finds everything laughable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-man-of-understanding-finds-everything-laughable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“There is a big difference between knowing and understanding. If I had a choice of being remembered as a knowledgeable or an understanding man,give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-wood/there-is-a-big-difference-between-knowing-and-understanding-if-i-had/) [Rob Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-wood/) > [“The size of a man’s understanding may always be justly measured by his mirth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-may-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-man-of-understanding-finds-less-difficulty-in-submitting-to-a-wrong/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“The intellectual or logical man, rather than the understanding or observant man, set himself to imagine designs — to dictate purposes to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/the-intellectual-or-logical-man-rather-than-the-understanding-or/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [The size of a man's understanding can be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-can-be-justly-measured-by-his-mirth/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Nobody likes these things life hands us. But part of becoming a man is understanding how to face them head on instead of running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-jacob/nobody-likes-these-things-life-hands-us-but-part-of-becoming-a-man-is/) [Mira Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-jacob/) > [“Mm, there was no need, but that s how the mind goes on working. The mind goes on creating troubles which are not needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/mm-there-was-no-need-but-that-s-how-the-mind-goes-on-working-the-mind/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“The man of ambition thinks to find his good in the operations of others; the man of pleasure in his own sensations; but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-man-of-ambition-thinks-to-find-his-good-in-the-operations-of/) [marcus aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More by Clement of Alexandria > [It is not your outward appearance that you should beautify, but your soul, adorning it with good works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-not-your-outward-appearance-that-you-should-beautify-but-your/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [But those who are ready to toil in the most excellent pursuits, will not desist from the search after truth, till they get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/but-those-who-are-ready-to-toil-in-the-most-excellent-pursuits-will/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [We say that knowledge is not mere talk, but a certain divine knowledge, that light which is kindled in the soul as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/we-say-that-knowledge-is-not-mere-talk-but-a-certain-divine-knowledge/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [All our life is like a day of celebration for us; we are convinced, in fact, that God is always everywhere. We work while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/all-our-life-is-like-a-day-of-celebration-for-us-we-are-convinced-in/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [When you see your brother, you see God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/when-you-see-your-brother-you-see-god/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [“Now Aristotle says that the judgment which follows knowledge is in truth faith. Accordingly, faith is something superior to knowledge, and is its criterion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/now-aristotle-says-that-the-judgment-which-follows-knowledge-is-in/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [Every woman should be filled with shame by the thought that she is a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/every-woman-should-be-filled-with-shame-by-the-thought-that-she-is-a/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [His Son Jesus, the Word of God, is our Instructor… He is God and Creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/his-son-jesus-the-word-of-god-is-our-instructor-he-is-god-and-creator/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [If you enroll as one of God's people, then heaven is your country and God your lawgiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/if-you-enroll-as-one-of-god-s-people-then-heaven-is-your-country-and/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [GOD became man so that we in our turn may become God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/god-became-man-so-that-we-in-our-turn-may-become-god/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [The Word of God became man, that thou mayest learn from man how man may become God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/the-word-of-god-became-man-that-thou-mayest-learn-from-man-how-man/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > ['Eat my flesh,' Jesus says, 'and drink my blood.' The Lord supplies us with these intimate nutrients, he delivers over his flesh and pours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/eat-my-flesh-jesus-says-and-drink-my-blood-the-lord-supplies-us-with/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [Every woman should be filled with shame by the thought that she isa woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/every-woman-should-be-filled-with-shame-by-the-thought-that-she-isa/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [Our whole life can go on in observation of the laws of nature, if we gain dominion over our desires from the beginning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/our-whole-life-can-go-on-in-observation-of-the-laws-of-nature-if-we/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [Above all Christians are not allowed to correct by violence sinful wrongdoings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/above-all-christians-are-not-allowed-to-correct-by-violence-sinful/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) [Explore all 51 Clement of Alexandria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) Stacy Green > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man of understanding and not to be ashamed to gratify the body.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clement of Alexandria" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same-time-to-be-a-man-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashamed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same-time-to-be-a-man-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/clement-of-alexandria-12861_ashamed_it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same_519788.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man of understanding and not to be ashamed to gratify…” — Clement of Alexandria", "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": "Clement of Alexandria", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is absolutely impossible at the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same-time-to-be-a-man-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same-time-to-be-a-man-of/#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 } } ] } ```