Acquire Quote by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon
“For the little that one has reflected on the origin of our knowledge, it is easy to perceive that we can acquire it only by means of comparison. That which is absolutely incomparable is wholly incomprehensible. God is the only example that we could give here. He cannot be comprehended, because he cannot be compared. But all which is susceptible of comparison, everything that we can perceive by different aspects, all that we can consider relatively, can always be judged according to our knowledge.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Histoire Naturelle, 1749
Knowledge arises through comparing things; without comparison, something is incomprehensible, as with God.
In simple terms: We understand by comparing; the incomparable is unknowable.
Key Takeaway
Use comparison to grasp concepts.
Themes
knowledge
comparison
epistemology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
educational
When to use this quote
- scientific study
- philosophical debate
- teaching abstract ideas
Key Concepts
relativism
metaphysics
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we approach understanding the incomprehensible?
- Can we ever truly know something without a point of reference?
A Different Perspective
Comparison fails for truly unique or transcendent subjects.
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