--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The universe must exist for the…" description: "\"The universe must exist for the self-expression of God and the delight of God.\" — Ernest Holmes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png" --- # The universe must exist for the self-expression of God and… ![“The universe must exist for the self-expression of God and the delight of God.” quote by Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png) > “The universe must exist for the self-expression of God and the delight of God.” [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He posits that the universe exists to express and delight God, implying that creation is a divine act of self-expression. **In simple terms:** The universe exists to express God's delight. Key Takeaway Appreciate the divine purpose in existence. Themes spirituality purpose cosmology Mood inspirational contemplative Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - religious contemplation - artistic inspiration - nature appreciation Key Concepts divine expression theodicy Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect your sense of purpose? - What role does creativity play in spirituality? A Different Perspective Interpretations of divine purpose vary across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Delight God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight-god-1737497/) [Exist Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-self-585296/) [Expression God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression-god-576663/) [God Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-delight-1235294/) [Light Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-god/) [Self expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-expression/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-exist-882839/) ## Related quotes > [Delighting in God's Word leads us to delight in God, and delight in God drives away fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/delighting-in-god-s-word-leads-us-to-delight-in-god-and-delight-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [Missions is the overflow of our delight in God because missions is the overflow of God's delight in being God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/missions-is-the-overflow-of-our-delight-in-god-because-missions-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“... I can see it in the looking back, how this daily practice of the discipline of gratitude is the way to daily practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/i-can-see-it-in-the-looking-back-how-this-daily-practice-of-the/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [God's delight is received upon surrender, not awarded upon conquest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-delight-is-received-upon-surrender-not-awarded-upon-conquest/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“The gospel isn't merely the absence of all condemnation; it's also the fullness of God's delight lavished on us in Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/the-gospel-isn-t-merely-the-absence-of-all-condemnation-it-s-also-the/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [“What does it mean to delight in the Lord? Delighting in the Lord is simply having a heart motivated by the Lord. When our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bixler/what-does-it-mean-to-delight-in-the-lord-delighting-in-the-lord-is/) [Heather Bixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bixler/) > [“AVA God you are a delight you have delivered what I like heaven delivers a gift with lips heaven delivers a gift with hips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-m-romarney/ava-god-you-are-a-delight-you-have-delivered-what-i-like-heaven/) [R.M. Romarney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-m-romarney/) > [We don't honor just to get a reward; we honor because it is the heart of God, and it is our delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/we-don-t-honor-just-to-get-a-reward-we-honor-because-it-is-the-heart/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) > [“You are the fabric of God’ s delight!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-toon/you-are-the-fabric-of-god-s-delight/) [Catherine Toon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-toon/) > [Daily absorption in the physical actualities of nature is life as I need it to be: it means I am connected to such large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/daily-absorption-in-the-physical-actualities-of-nature-is-life-as-i/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [Holding on tight to things that we know no longer exist is a self-destructive vice, familiar and formidable. Letting go and moving on eases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/holding-on-tight-to-things-that-we-know-no-longer-exist-is-a-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tokyo was a place you could quite happily exist alone and be self-contained. It seemed to promise that it was better to be by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/tokyo-was-a-place-you-could-quite-happily-exist-alone-and-be-self/) [Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/) > [The place where even the slightest trace of the 'I' does not exist, alone is Self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-place-where-even-the-slightest-trace-of-the-i-does-not-exist/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [“In a world of beings who don't exist, who self-destruct and erase themselves, perhaps one should make a valiant effort to at least draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luisa-valenzuela/in-a-world-of-beings-who-don-t-exist-who-self-destruct-and-erase/) [Luisa Valenzuela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luisa-valenzuela/) > [It's better to die with honor then to live your whole life in shame Because a man without honor is a man without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lokis-white/it-s-better-to-die-with-honor-then-to-live-your-whole-life-in-shame/) [Lokis White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lokis-white/) ## More by Ernest Holmes > [The great spiritual geniuses, whether it was Moses, Buddha, Plato, Socrates, Jesus, or Emerson… have taught man to look within himself to find God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-great-spiritual-geniuses-whether-it-was-moses-buddha-plato/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [The road to freedom lies not through mysteries or occult performances, but through the intelligent use of natural forces and laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-road-to-freedom-lies-not-through-mysteries-or-occult-performances/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [The Apostle John said, " Beloved, now we are the sons of God." He didn't say by and by we are going to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-apostle-john-said-beloved-now-we-are-the-sons-of-god-he-didn-t/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Prepare your mind to recieve the best that life has to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/prepare-your-mind-to-recieve-the-best-that-life-has-to-offer/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Begin where you are. It would be unscientific to begin anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/begin-where-you-are-it-would-be-unscientific-to-begin-anywhere-else/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [“Knowledge is of the intellect; wisdom and understanding are of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/knowledge-is-of-the-intellect-wisdom-and-understanding-are-of-the/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Today I do affirm that I am Divinely guided...There is that within which knows what to do and how to do it, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/today-i-do-affirm-that-i-am-divinely-guided-there-is-that-within/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Fear brings failure; faith brings success. It's just that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/fear-brings-failure-faith-brings-success-it-s-just-that-simple/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Each one should realize there is nothing in (us) which denies that which (we) desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/each-one-should-realize-there-is-nothing-in-us-which-denies-that/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [The universal Mind contains all knowledge. It is the potential ultimate of all things. To it, all things are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-universal-mind-contains-all-knowledge-it-is-the-potential/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [What you are looking for is what you are looking with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/what-you-are-looking-for-is-what-you-are-looking-with/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Definitely I know that every negative condition of the past is cleared away from my consciousness. I no longer think about it, see it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/definitely-i-know-that-every-negative-condition-of-the-past-is/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [“Confronted with unhappiness, I will unmask it also by seeing through this false face to the true countenance of joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/confronted-with-unhappiness-i-will-unmask-it-also-by-seeing-through/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [That which distinguishes the new thought from the old is not a denial of this Divine Reality, but an affirmation of its immediate availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/that-which-distinguishes-the-new-thought-from-the-old-is-not-a-denial/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Our vision is beclouded and the pathway of our progress is obstructed until we come to know that god can and does express as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/our-vision-is-beclouded-and-the-pathway-of-our-progress-is-obstructed/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) [Explore all 178 Ernest Holmes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The universe must exist for the self-expression of God and the delight of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Holmes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-expression-of-god-and-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-expression-of-god-and-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad7/ernest-holmes-2229_delight_the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-exp_2023443.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The universe must exist for the self-expression of God and the delight of God.” — Ernest Holmes", "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": "Ernest Holmes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The universe must exist for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-expression-of-god-and-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-universe-must-exist-for-the-self-expression-of-god-and-the/#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 } } ] } ```