--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...it is the knowledge of necessary and…" description: "\"“...it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/gottfried-leibniz-3585_knowledge_it-is-the-knowledge-of-necessary-and-ete_1605121.png" --- # ...it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths… ![“...it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God...” quote by Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/gottfried-leibniz-3585_knowledge_it-is-the-knowledge-of-necessary-and-ete_1605121.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/gottfried-leibniz-3585_knowledge_it-is-the-knowledge-of-necessary-and-ete_1605121.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/gottfried-leibniz-3585_knowledge_it-is-the-knowledge-of-necessary-and-ete_1605121.png) > ““...it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God...”” [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reason and science arise from understanding eternal truths, distinguishing humans from animals and linking us to divinity. **In simple terms:** Knowledge of eternal truths separates us from beasts and connects us to God. Key Takeaway Seek timeless truths to elevate reason. Themes philosophy reason spirituality Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic study - personal reflection - ethical decision‑making - spiritual practice Key Concepts metaphysics epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What eternal truths guide your life? - How does reason shape your spiritual beliefs? A Different Perspective Absolute truths may be contested across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternal Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-truths-246540/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-god/) [Knowledge Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-necessary-409507/) [Raising Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising-knowledge-6111037/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths Distinguishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths-distinguishes-2566449/) ## Related quotes > [But it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths which distinguishes us from mere animals, and gives us reason and the sciences, raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/but-it-is-the-knowledge-of-necessary-and-eternal-truths-which/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [It is not often that any man can have so much knowledge of another, as is necessary to make instruction useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-not-often-that-any-man-can-have-so-much-knowledge-of-another-as/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Imagination is not enough. Knowledge is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scott/imagination-is-not-enough-knowledge-is-necessary/) [Paul Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scott/) > [“Why are so many people afraid that we are running out of energy? Why do they warn of disaster if we exhaust all available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/why-are-so-many-people-afraid-that-we-are-running-out-of-energy-why/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/our-great-power-does-not-mean-we-can-do-whatever-we-want-whenever-we/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Until the end of the Middle Ages, and in many cases afterwards too, in order to obtain initiation in a trade of any sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-ari-s/until-the-end-of-the-middle-ages-and-in-many-cases-afterwards-too-in/) [Philippe Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-ari-s/) > [The Bible contains more knowledge necessary to man in his present state than any other book in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-bible-contains-more-knowledge-necessary-to-man-in-his-present/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/these-days-people-don-t-search-for-the-truth-people-study-simply-in/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [It is God who is the ultimate reason things, and the Knowledge of God is no less the beginning of science than his essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/it-is-god-who-is-the-ultimate-reason-things-and-the-knowledge-of-god/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [If knowledge is my God, doubt would be my religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/if-knowledge-is-my-god-doubt-would-be-my-religion/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Since ideology is part of the human personality, it deserves a place in the kingdom of eternal truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/since-ideology-is-part-of-the-human-personality-it-deserves-a-place/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [“Hegel believed that the basis of human cognition changed from one generation to the next. There were therefore no 'eternal truths', no timeless reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/hegel-believed-that-the-basis-of-human-cognition-changed-from-one/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [“When it comes to application of eternal truths we may, of course, apply them, if they are in harmony with what is addressed specially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-bullinger/when-it-comes-to-application-of-eternal-truths-we-may-of-course-apply/) [E.W. Bullinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-bullinger/) > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) ## More by Gottfried Leibniz > [There are two famous labyrinths where our reason very often goes astray. One concerns the great question of the free and the necessary, above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/there-are-two-famous-labyrinths-where-our-reason-very-often-goes/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [Either there are no corporeal substances, and bodies are merely phenomena which are true or consistent with each other, such as a rainbow or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/either-there-are-no-corporeal-substances-and-bodies-are-merely/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [The present is saturated with the past and pregnant with the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/the-present-is-saturated-with-the-past-and-pregnant-with-the-future/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [Make me the the master of education, and I will undertake to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/make-me-the-the-master-of-education-and-i-will-undertake-to-change/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [All the different classes of beings which taken together make up the universe are, in the ideas of God who knows distinctly their essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/all-the-different-classes-of-beings-which-taken-together-make-up-the/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [I hold that the mark of a genuine idea is that its possibility can be proved, either a priori by conceiving its cause or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/i-hold-that-the-mark-of-a-genuine-idea-is-that-its-possibility-can-be/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [The monad, of which we shall speak here, is nothing but a simple substance which enters into compounds; simple, that is to say, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/the-monad-of-which-we-shall-speak-here-is-nothing-but-a-simple/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [There is no way in which a simple substance could begin in the course of nature, since it cannot be formed by means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/there-is-no-way-in-which-a-simple-substance-could-begin-in-the-course/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [In symbols one observes an advantage in discovery which is greatest when they express the exact nature of a thing briefly and, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/in-symbols-one-observes-an-advantage-in-discovery-which-is-greatest/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [There is nothing without reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/there-is-nothing-without-reason/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [God, possessing supreme and infinite wisdom, acts in the most perfect manner, not only metaphysically, but also morally speaking, and ... with respect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/god-possessing-supreme-and-infinite-wisdom-acts-in-the-most-perfect/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [It can have its effect only through the intervention of God, inasmuch as in the ideas of God a monad rightly demands that God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/it-can-have-its-effect-only-through-the-intervention-of-god-inasmuch/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [I do not conceive of any reality at all as without genuine unity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/i-do-not-conceive-of-any-reality-at-all-as-without-genuine-unity/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [The pleasure we obtain from music comes from counting, but counting unconsciously. Music is nothing but unconscious arithmetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/the-pleasure-we-obtain-from-music-comes-from-counting-but-counting/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [If we were magically shrunk and put into someone's brain while she was thinking, we would see all the pumps, pistons, gears and levers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/if-we-were-magically-shrunk-and-put-into-someone-s-brain-while-she/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) [Explore all 127 Gottfried Leibniz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) ## More Knowledge quotes > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted-the-sweetness-of/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) > [I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my powers and dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/i-would-rather-excel-others-in-the-knowledge-of-what-is-excellent/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. 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