Believe Quote by Francis Quarles
“Thy ignorance in unrevealed mysteries is the mother of a saving faith, and thy understanding in revealed truths is the mother of a sacred knowledge; understand not therefore that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand; understanding is the wages of a lively faith and faith is the reward of an humble ignorance.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Unseen World by Francis Quarles, 1625
Ignorance of hidden mysteries fuels faith; revealed truth fosters knowledge; belief precedes understanding, and both nurture each other.
In simple terms: Not knowing mysteries strengthens faith; learning truths builds knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility and curiosity together.
Themes
faith
knowledge
humility
curiosity
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal study
- spiritual practice
- education
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
theology
epistemology
paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance faith and reason?
- What role does humility play in learning?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on mystery may hinder critical inquiry; faith without reason can be fragile.
![“The mysteries of the faith are not to [be] explained rashly to anyone. Usually in fact, they cannot be understood by everyone but only by those who are qualified to understand them with informed intelligence. The depth of the divine Scriptures is such that not only the illiterate and uninitiated…” quote by Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b5/pope-innocent-iii-32111_atheism_the-mysteries-of-the-faith-are-not-to-be_2023853.jpg)
