--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...though every thinking being longs for…" description: "\"...though every thinking being longs for God, the First Cause, it is powerless... to grasp Him. Tired with the yearning it chafes at the bit and, carel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg" --- # ...though every thinking being longs for God, the First… ![“...though every thinking being longs for God, the First Cause, it is powerless... to grasp Him. Tired with the yearning it chafes at the bit and, careless of the cost, it tries a second tack. Either it looks at things visible and makes of these a god - a gross mistake, for what visible thing is…” quote by Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg) > “...though every thinking being longs for God, the First Cause, it is powerless... to grasp Him. Tired with the yearning it chafes at the bit and, careless of the cost, it tries a second tack. Either it looks at things visible and makes of these a god - a gross mistake, for what visible thing is more sublime, more godlike, than its observer... - or else it discovers God through the beauty and order of things seen, using sight as a guide to what transcends sight without losing God through the grandeur of what it sees.” [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human intellect seeks the divine but cannot fully comprehend it; it either misplaces worship on visible things or perceives God through the order and beauty of creation. **In simple terms:** We can’t fully grasp God, so we find Him in nature or avoid false idols. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding beyond appearances. Themes spirituality philosophy theology Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theological reflective When to use this quote - personal meditation - artistic creation - scientific inquiry - environmental stewardship Key Concepts transcendence iconoclasm beauty as divine Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize true divinity versus false representations? - What role does nature play in your spiritual practice? A Different Perspective Human reason is limited and may still be led astray by superficial interpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Careless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-cause/) [Godlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godlike/) [Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandeur/) [Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gross/) [Guides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guides/) [Longs God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longs-god-2809356/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Losing God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-god-1179459/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Observers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observers/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Orthodox christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/) [Powerless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerless/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Sublime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sublime/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visible/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) ## Related quotes > [A believer longs after God, to come into his presence, to feel his love, to feel near to him in secret, to feel in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/a-believer-longs-after-god-to-come-into-his-presence-to-feel-his-love/) [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/) > [The ego hates losing – even to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-ego-hates-losing-even-to-god/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/the-modern-scientist-has-lost-god-amid-the-wonders-of-his-world-we/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [God takes away something you never expected losing, but God will replace it with something you never imagined you could have. Trust in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/god-takes-away-something-you-never-expected-losing-but-god-will/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [May you be children of God, pure and unblameable, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (cf. Phil. 1:15): and may you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-you-be-children-of-god-pure-and-unblameable-in-the-midst-of-a/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [As far as we can reach, He Who Is, and God, are the special names of His Essence; and of these especially He Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/as-far-as-we-can-reach-he-who-is-and-god-are-the-special-names-of-his/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [The Son is 'Life' (Jn. 14:6) because He is 'Light', constituting and giving reality to every thinking being. 'For in Him we live, move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/the-son-is-life-jn-14-6-because-he-is-light-constituting-and-giving/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Do not delay in coming to grace, but hasten, lest the robber outstrip you, lest the adulterer pass you by, lest the insatiate be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/do-not-delay-in-coming-to-grace-but-hasten-lest-the-robber-outstrip/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [These three things God requires of all the Baptized: right faith in the heart, truth on the tongue, temperance in the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/these-three-things-god-requires-of-all-the-baptized-right-faith-in/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Do you conceive of your Lord as less because? He shows that humiliation is the best road to exaltation (cf. Mt. 23:12); because He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/do-you-conceive-of-your-lord-as-less-because-he-shows-that/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [...a disposition is an unsatisfactory thing unless we give it practical effect - deeds show dispositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/a-disposition-is-an-unsatisfactory-thing-unless-we-give-it-practical/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Keep the Feast of the Resurrection. Be a Peter or a John; hasten to the Sepulchre, running together, running against one another, vying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/keep-the-feast-of-the-resurrection-be-a-peter-or-a-john-hasten-to-the/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [There is One God and One Mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ (cf. I Tim. 2:5). 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Those for whom it is a serious undertaking, not just another subject like any other for entertaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/who-should-listen-to-discussions-of-theology-those-for-whom-it-is-a/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) ## More by Gregory of Nazianzus > [That which He has not assumed He has not healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/that-which-he-has-not-assumed-he-has-not-healed/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [As far as we can reach, He Who Is, and God, are the special names of His Essence; and of these especially He Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/as-far-as-we-can-reach-he-who-is-and-god-are-the-special-names-of-his/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [But as the old Confusion of tongues was laudable, when men who were of one language in wickedness and impiety, even as some now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/but-as-the-old-confusion-of-tongues-was-laudable-when-men-who-were-of/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [If anyone does not believe that Holy Mary is the Mother of God, he is severed from the Godhead. If anyone should assert that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/if-anyone-does-not-believe-that-holy-mary-is-the-mother-of-god-he-is/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [What He was, He laid aside; what He was not, He assumed. He takes upon Himself the poverty of my flesh so that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/what-he-was-he-laid-aside-what-he-was-not-he-assumed-he-takes-upon/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [The first of all beautiful things is the continual possession of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/the-first-of-all-beautiful-things-is-the-continual-possession-of-god/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Such is the grace and power of baptism; not an overwhelming of the world as of old, but a purification of the sins of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/such-is-the-grace-and-power-of-baptism-not-an-overwhelming-of-the/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Keep the Feast of the Resurrection. Be a Peter or a John; hasten to the Sepulchre, running together, running against one another, vying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/keep-the-feast-of-the-resurrection-be-a-peter-or-a-john-hasten-to-the/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Our teaching may contain nothing impious, nothing diluted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/our-teaching-may-contain-nothing-impious-nothing-diluted/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Remember God more often than you breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/remember-god-more-often-than-you-breathe/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [If our Lord ascends up to Heaven, ascend with Him. Be one of those angels who escort Him, or one of those who receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/if-our-lord-ascends-up-to-heaven-ascend-with-him-be-one-of-those/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [It is difficult to practice obedience; but it is even more difficult to practice leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/it-is-difficult-to-practice-obedience-but-it-is-even-more-difficult/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [May you be children of God, pure and unblameable, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (cf. Phil. 1:15): and may you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-you-be-children-of-god-pure-and-unblameable-in-the-midst-of-a/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Worship the Trinity, which I call the only true devotion and saving doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/worship-the-trinity-which-i-call-the-only-true-devotion-and-saving/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Christ is born: glorify Him. Christ comes from heaven: go out to meet Him. Christ descends to earth: let us be raised on high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/christ-is-born-glorify-him-christ-comes-from-heaven-go-out-to-meet/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) [Explore all 55 Gregory of Nazianzus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) ## More Bits quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. 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Either it looks at things visible and makes of these a god - a gross mistake, for what visible thing is more sublime, more godlike, than its observer... - or else it discovers God through the beauty and order of things seen, using sight as a guide to what transcends sight without losing God through the grandeur of what it sees.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory of Nazianzus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-god-the-first-cause-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bits" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-god-the-first-cause-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_bits_though-every-thinking-being-longs-for-go_1901580.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...though every thinking being longs for God, the First Cause, it is powerless... to grasp Him. 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