--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some have narrowed their minds, and so…" description: "\"Some have narrowed their minds, and so fettered them with the chains of antiquity that not only do they refuse to speak save as the ancients spake, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/girolamo-savonarola-34369_ancients_some-have-narrowed-their-minds-and-so-fe_2739188.jpg" --- # Some have narrowed their minds, and so fettered them with… ![“Some have narrowed their minds, and so fettered them with the chains of antiquity that not only do they refuse to speak save as the ancients spake, but they refuse to think save as the ancients thought. God speaks to us, too, and the best thoughts are those now being vouchsafed to us. We will…” quote by Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/girolamo-savonarola-34369_ancients_some-have-narrowed-their-minds-and-so-fe_2739188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/girolamo-savonarola-34369_ancients_some-have-narrowed-their-minds-and-so-fe_2739188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/292/girolamo-savonarola-34369_ancients_some-have-narrowed-their-minds-and-so-fe_2739188.jpg) > “Some have narrowed their minds, and so fettered them with the chains of antiquity that not only do they refuse to speak save as the ancients spake, but they refuse to think save as the ancients thought. God speaks to us, too, and the best thoughts are those now being vouchsafed to us. We will excel the ancients!” [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some cling to ancient thinking, refusing modern speech and thought; yet divine inspiration also guides us, urging us to surpass the ancients. **In simple terms:** Reject outdated thinking; embrace divine inspiration to surpass past. Key Takeaway Seek progress beyond tradition. Themes philosophy religion progressivism Mood reflective inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - theological debate - educational reform - cultural critique - artistic creation Key Concepts tradition innovation spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance tradition and innovation? - What role does divine inspiration play today? A Different Perspective May dismiss valuable historical wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients/) [Ancients Spake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients-spake-3013786/) [Ancients Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients-thought-3013785/) [Antiquity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiquity/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-think-770376/) [Save Ancients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-ancients-3013787/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Let us get of these indoor narrow modern days, whose twelve hours somehow have become shortened, into the sunlight and the pure wind. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/let-us-get-of-these-indoor-narrow-modern-days-whose-twelve-hours/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [“When dawn comes I'm sitting in bed with my arms around my knees and, since I have nothing to do, am trying to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/when-dawn-comes-i-m-sitting-in-bed-with-my-arms-around-my-knees-and/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“The allure of antiquity... The echoes of bygone eras, where time seems to linger in the aged textures of ancients. A visceral connection to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monika-ajay-kaul/the-allure-of-antiquity-the-echoes-of-bygone-eras-where-time-seems-to/) [Monika Ajay Kaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monika-ajay-kaul/) > [Refuse to think in terms of this or that. All pain needs investigation. The mind is nothing else but the self. Assumption obscures reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/refuse-to-think-in-terms-of-this-or-that-all-pain-needs-investigation/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“To all those who still wish to talk about man, about his reign or his liberation, to all those who still ask themselves questions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foucault-michel/to-all-those-who-still-wish-to-talk-about-man-about-his-reign-or-his/) [FOUCAULT MICHEL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foucault-michel/) > [“Educated idiots are the most fearsome creatures in a leadership structure because even though trained they still refuse to think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/educated-idiots-are-the-most-fearsome-creatures-in-a-leadership/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [“Entertaining a notion, like entertaining a baby cousin or entertaining a pack of hyenas, is a dangerous thing to refuse to do. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/entertaining-a-notion-like-entertaining-a-baby-cousin-or-entertaining/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [I'm so stupid because I refuse to think that I'm getting older. I get up in the morning, and it's like, 'La, la, la,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charo/i-m-so-stupid-because-i-refuse-to-think-that-i-m-getting-older-i-get/) [Charo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charo/) > [“Today you can refuse to think negative thoughts, speak negative words, or engage in any negative behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-you-can-refuse-to-think-negative-thoughts-speak-negative-words/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“It was all so damn fragile, that was the thing. Obvious, for sure,but for the most part we block - we refuse to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/it-was-all-so-damn-fragile-that-was-the-thing-obvious-for-sure-but/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [See that you are not what you believe yourself to be. Fight with all the strength at your disposal against the idea that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/see-that-you-are-not-what-you-believe-yourself-to-be-fight-with-all/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It's an odd thing but when you tell someone the true facts of a mythical tale they are indignant not with the teller but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-tey/it-s-an-odd-thing-but-when-you-tell-someone-the-true-facts-of-a/) [Josephine Tey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-tey/) > [Refuse to be cynical. Refuse to think that things can never change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callaway/refuse-to-be-cynical-refuse-to-think-that-things-can-never-change/) [John Callaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-callaway/) > [And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown that the ancients did not know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/and-perhaps-posterity-will-thank-me-for-having-shown-that-the/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [“Et peut-être la posterité me saura gré de lui avoir fait connaître que les Anciens n’ont pas tout su. ( And perhaps, posterity will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/et-peut-tre-la-posterit-me-saura-gr-de-lui-avoir-fait-conna-tre-que/) [Pierre De Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) ## More by Girolamo Savonarola > [The only good thing that we owe to Plato and Aristotle is that they brought forward many arguments which we can use against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/the-only-good-thing-that-we-owe-to-plato-and-aristotle-is-that-they/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [Lord! teach me the way my soul should walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/lord-teach-me-the-way-my-soul-should-walk/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [If there be no enemy, no fight; if do fight, no victory; if no victory, no crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/if-there-be-no-enemy-no-fight-if-do-fight-no-victory-if-no-victory-no/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [It would be good for religion if many books that seem useful were destroyed. When there were not so many books and not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/it-would-be-good-for-religion-if-many-books-that-seem-useful-were/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. Take joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/the-gloom-of-the-world-is-but-a-shadow-behind-it-yet-within-our-reach-2/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [Whoever excommunicates me, excommunicates God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/whoever-excommunicates-me-excommunicates-god/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [I am the hailstorm that shall break the heads of those who do not take shelter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/i-am-the-hailstorm-that-shall-break-the-heads-of-those-who-do-not/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [The whole world knows that His glory has not been spread by force and weapons, but by poor fishermen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/the-whole-world-knows-that-his-glory-has-not-been-spread-by-force-and/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [Don't be ashamed to learn from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/don-t-be-ashamed-to-learn-from-others/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [Elegance of language must give way before simplicity in preaching sound doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/elegance-of-language-must-give-way-before-simplicity-in-preaching/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [God is the best helper, but He loves to be helped. Be earnest in prayer, but do not neglect human means. You must help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/god-is-the-best-helper-but-he-loves-to-be-helped-be-earnest-in-prayer/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [It came from God, and so is Christ true, and Christ is thy God, who is in heaven and awaits thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/it-came-from-god-and-so-is-christ-true-and-christ-is-thy-god-who-is/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) > [Do you wish to be free? Then above all things, love God, love your neighbor, love one another, love the common weal; then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girolamo-savonarola/do-you-wish-to-be-free-then-above-all-things-love-god-love-your/) [Girolamo Savonarola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) [Explore all 14 Girolamo Savonarola quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girolamo-savonarola/) ## More Ancients quotes > [“Et peut-être la posterité me saura gré de lui avoir fait connaître que les Anciens n’ont pas tout su. ( And perhaps, posterity will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/et-peut-tre-la-posterit-me-saura-gr-de-lui-avoir-fait-conna-tre-que/) [Pierre De Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [And perhaps, posterity will thank me for having shown that the ancients did not know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/and-perhaps-posterity-will-thank-me-for-having-shown-that-the/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [The ancients understood the regulation of power better than the regulation of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ancients-understood-the-regulation-of-power-better-than-the/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [The ancients said: Hulk to be whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-ancients-said-hulk-to-be-whole/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“One makes a great error if one believes there are 'ancients.' Only now is antiquity starting to arise. It arises in the eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/one-makes-a-great-error-if-one-believes-there-are-ancients-only-now/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [“Certainly it's a rare glimpse into the lives of the Secular Ancients. They don't seem as bad as the Dominion histories make them out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/certainly-it-s-a-rare-glimpse-into-the-lives-of-the-secular-ancients/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [“That is to say, when the ancients experienced gaps in their understanding of the world around them, they filled those gaps with God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/that-is-to-say-when-the-ancients-experienced-gaps-in-their/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom; I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-courbet/i-am-not-one-who-was-born-in-the-custody-of-wisdom-i-am-one-who-is/) [Gustave Courbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-courbet/) > [Why must ancients, and provided the same talent, be better than modern authors? Free to exploit the vast realm of the simpleand the natural,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/why-must-ancients-and-provided-the-same-talent-be-better-than-modern/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The ancients had a term in the mystical tradition called the Akashic Records, which was suggestive that nature didn't lose it's experience, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/the-ancients-had-a-term-in-the-mystical-tradition-called-the-akashic/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Some are so very studious of learning what was done by the ancients that they know not how to live with the moderns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/some-are-so-very-studious-of-learning-what-was-done-by-the-ancients/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [We could learn a lot from the ancients, and we should go back there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/we-could-learn-a-lot-from-the-ancients-and-we-should-go-back-there/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [The finest and most beautiful ideas on morals and manners have been swept away before our times, and nothing is left for us but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-finest-and-most-beautiful-ideas-on-morals-and-manners-have-been/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/nothing-truly-convincing-which-would-possess-thoroughness-vigor-and/) [Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wilhelm-friedrich-schlegel/) > [By comparing what we know today with what the ancients appear to have known we can guess at the kinds of wine they drank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-waugh/by-comparing-what-we-know-today-with-what-the-ancients-appear-to-have/) [Alec Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-waugh/) [Browse all 73 Ancients quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancients/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some have narrowed their minds, and so fettered them with the chains of antiquity that not only do they refuse to speak save as the ancients spake, but they refuse to think save as the ancients thought. 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