Fallacy Quote by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
““After all, is our idea of God anything more than personified incomprehensibility? {Said in a letter to Voltaire }””
About This Quote
Source Letter to Voltaire, 1790s
The quote questions whether our concept of God is merely a human-made personification of the unknowable.
In simple terms: God may be a human projection of mystery.
Key Takeaway
Question our assumptions about divinity.
Themes
theology
philosophy
human cognition
Mood
contemplative
skeptical
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- religious debate
- personal reflection
- academic discussion
Key Concepts
personification
incomprehensibility
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define God beyond human traits?
- Can mystery be expressed without personification?
A Different Perspective
Critics argue that divine concepts can be meaningful beyond mere personification.
![“As to your Newton, I confess I do not understand his void and his gravity; I admit he has demonstrated the movement of the heavenly bodies with more exactitude than his forerunners; but you will admit it is an absurdity to maintain the existence of Nothing. [Letter to Voltaire, 25 Nov. 1777]” quote by Frederick the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a1/frederick-the-great-8525_absurdity_as-to-your-newton-i-confess-i-do-not-und_1077457.jpg)
![“[ When asked by a student if he believes in any gods ] Oh, no. Absolutely not... The biggest advantage to believing in God is you don't have to understand anything, no physics, no biology. I wanted to understand.” quote by James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19c/james-d-watson-4724_atheism_when-asked-by-a-student-if-he-believes-i_1394454.jpg)
