---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Concepts create idols; only wonder…"
description: "\"Concepts create idols; only wonder understands anything.\" — Gregory of Nyssa"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_idols_concepts-create-idols-only-wonder-unders_2438458.png"
---

#  Concepts create idols; only wonder understands anything.

![“Concepts create idols; only wonder understands anything.” quote by Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_idols_concepts-create-idols-only-wonder-unders_2438458.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_idols_concepts-create-idols-only-wonder-unders_2438458.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_idols_concepts-create-idols-only-wonder-unders_2438458.png)

> “Concepts create idols; only wonder understands anything.”

[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement suggests that abstract ideas become objects of worship, and only true wonder can grasp reality beyond such idols.

**In simple terms:** Ideas can become false idols; wonder reveals truth.

Key Takeaway

Seek wonder, avoid idolizing concepts.

Themes

philosophy religion wisdom

Mood

inquisitive thoughtful

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- studying philosophy
- meditative practice
- critical thinking

Key Concepts

idolatry wonder truth

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you treated an idea as a deity?
- Can wonder replace dogma?

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[Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/)

## Related quotes

> [“Concepts create idols; only wonder grasps anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/concepts-create-idols-only-wonder-grasps-anything/)

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> [Concepts create idols; only wonder comprehends anything. People kill one another over idols. Wonder makes us fall to our knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/concepts-create-idols-only-wonder-comprehends-anything-people-kill/)

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> [Concepts create idols of God, of whom only wonder can tell us anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/concepts-create-idols-of-god-of-whom-only-wonder-can-tell-us-anything/)

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> [Small Data is not about testing concepts - it is more to create the foundation for innovative brand thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lindstrom/small-data-is-not-about-testing-concepts-it-is-more-to-create-the/)

[Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lindstrom/)

> [We make Idols of our concepts, but Wisdom is born of wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-make-idols-of-our-concepts-but-wisdom-is-born-of-wonder/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-must-not-touch-our-idols-the-gilt-sticks-to-our-fingers/)

[Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/)

> [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/)

[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

> [I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-cute-and-god-i-hate-that-because-that-s-not-cool-i-m-like-your/)

[Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/)

> [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/)

Richard Keyes

> [Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/proof-is-an-idol-before-which-the-mathematician-tortures-himself/)

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> [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/)

[Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/)

> [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/that-s-one-of-my-idols-i-really-look-up-to-pacquiao-this-guy-is/)

[Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/)

## More by Gregory of Nyssa

> [It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the wish to please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned-to-the-world-and-feels-its/)

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> [For when one considers the universe, can anyone be so simple-minded as not to believe that the Divine is present in everything, pervading, embracing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/for-when-one-considers-the-universe-can-anyone-be-so-simple-minded-as/)

[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

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[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

> [But if one wishes to be absolute master of all, to obtain the entire inheritance, and to exclude his brothers from even a third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/but-if-one-wishes-to-be-absolute-master-of-all-to-obtain-the-entire/)

[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

> [“and the creation, in the world and above the world, that once was at variance with itself, is knit together in friendship: and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/and-the-creation-in-the-world-and-above-the-world-that-once-was-at/)

[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

> [It is impossible for one to live without tears who considers things exactly as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-for-one-to-live-without-tears-who-considers-things/)

[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

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> [God's name is not known; it is wondered at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/god-s-name-is-not-known-it-is-wondered-at/)

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[Explore all 33 Gregory of Nyssa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

## More Idols quotes

> [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/that-s-one-of-my-idols-i-really-look-up-to-pacquiao-this-guy-is/)

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> [Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/proof-is-an-idol-before-which-the-mathematician-tortures-himself/)

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[Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/)

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> [A lot of the former Idols were voting for me, and that makes me feel really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-porsha-renae/a-lot-of-the-former-idols-were-voting-for-me-and-that-makes-me-feel/)

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> [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/)

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