--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was nineteen years old, I…" description: "\"“When I was nineteen years old, I discovered a collection of books in the Harvard library written by Jacob Boehme. Do you know of him?\" Naturally she k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/elizabeth-gilbert-131_book-title_when-i-was-nineteen-years-old-i-discover_279960.jpg" --- # When I was nineteen years old, I discovered a collection… ![“When I was nineteen years old, I discovered a collection of books in the Harvard library written by Jacob Boehme. Do you know of him?" Naturally she knew of him. She had her own copies of these works in the White Acre library. She had read Boehme, though she never admired him. Jacob Boehme was a…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/elizabeth-gilbert-131_book-title_when-i-was-nineteen-years-old-i-discover_279960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/elizabeth-gilbert-131_book-title_when-i-was-nineteen-years-old-i-discover_279960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/elizabeth-gilbert-131_book-title_when-i-was-nineteen-years-old-i-discover_279960.jpg) > ““When I was nineteen years old, I discovered a collection of books in the Harvard library written by Jacob Boehme. Do you know of him?" Naturally she knew of him. She had her own copies of these works in the White Acre library. She had read Boehme, though she never admired him. Jacob Boehme was a sixteenth-century cobbler from Germany who had mystical visions about plants. Many people considered him an early botanist. Alma's mother, on the other hand, had considered him a cesspool of residual medieval superstition. So there was considerable conflict of opinion surrounding Jacob Boehme. The old cobbler had believed in something he called "the signature of all things"- namely, that God had hidden clues for humanity's betterment inside the design of every flower, leaf, fruit, and tree on earth. All the natural world was a divine code, Boehme claimed, containing proof of our Creator's love. That is why so many medicinal plants resembled the diseases they were meant to cure, or the organs they were able to treat. Basil, with its liver-shaped leaves, is the obvious ministration for ailments of the liver. The celandine herb, which produces a yellow sap, can be used to treat the yellow discoloration brought on by jaundice. Walnuts, shaped like brains, are helpful for headaches. Coltsfoot, which grows near cold streams, can cure the coughs and chills brought on by immersion in ice water. 'Polygonum,' with its spattering of blood-red markings on the leaves, cures bleeding wounds of the flesh.”” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recounts a debate over Jacob Boehme’s mystical natural philosophy, highlighting conflict between science and superstition. **In simple terms:** She describes a clash of views on Boehme’s ideas about nature’s hidden codes. Key Takeaway Consider multiple perspectives on historical ideas. Themes mysticism science interpretation Mood curious reflective Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - garden design - herbal medicine - philosophical discussion Key Concepts natural philosophy symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What can modern science learn from ancient symbolism? - How do personal biases shape interpretation of history? A Different Perspective Boehme’s theories lack empirical evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book-title](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-title-2/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Medicinal herbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicinal-herbs/) [Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysticism/) [Natural world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-world/) [Symbolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolism/) ## Related quotes > [“Boehme makes such leaps, such contradictions, such confusions of thought. It is as though he wishes to vault directly into heaven upon the strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/boehme-makes-such-leaps-such-contradictions-such-confusions-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. 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