--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A truth that is merely handed on, without…" description: "\"A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital power.\" — Hans Urs von Balthasar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg" --- # A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought… ![“A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital power.” quote by Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg) > “A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital power.” [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexamined traditions lose their power; ideas need fresh reflection to stay vital. **In simple terms:** Old ideas become weak without new thinking. Key Takeaway Reexamine traditions. Themes tradition philosophy critical thinking renewal Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious practice - education - policy making Key Concepts epistemology cultural transmission Questions to Reflect On - What traditions still inspire you? - How can you balance respect and innovation? A Different Perspective It may discount the value of continuity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundations Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundations-lost-2044853/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Merely Handed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-handed-2044855/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-merely-1556364/) [Vital Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vital-power-2044854/) ## Related quotes > [There is an inflow of vital power, which is received by all living organisms during sleep … this vital energy is the only power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/there-is-an-inflow-of-vital-power-which-is-received-by-all-living/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [There is really nothing left to a genuine idle man, who possesses any considerable degree of vital power, but sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/there-is-really-nothing-left-to-a-genuine-idle-man-who-possesses-any/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [From the viewpoint of political power, culture is absolutely vital. So vital, indeed, that power cannot operate without it. It is culture, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/from-the-viewpoint-of-political-power-culture-is-absolutely-vital-so/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Who knows the power that Saturn has over us, or Venus? But it is a vital power, rippling exquisitely through us all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/who-knows-the-power-that-saturn-has-over-us-or-venus-but-it-is-a/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [A writer who says that there are no truths, or that all truth is ‘merely relative,’ is asking you not to believe him. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/a-writer-who-says-that-there-are-no-truths-or-that-all-truth-is/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [Truth is not merely what we are thinking, but also why, to whom and under what circumstances we say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/truth-is-not-merely-what-we-are-thinking-but-also-why-to-whom-and/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [If you want the truth rather than merely something to say, you will have a good deal less to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/if-you-want-the-truth-rather-than-merely-something-to-say-you-will/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [The will to truth is merely the longing for a stable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-will-to-truth-is-merely-the-longing-for-a-stable-world/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Truth is merely common sense, say the naive realist. Really? Then where, precisely, is the location of--a rainbow? In the air? In the eye?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/truth-is-merely-common-sense-say-the-naive-realist-really-then-where/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Truth is not truth merely because it is ancient. Nor is truth necessarily to be regarded with suspicion because it is ancient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/truth-is-not-truth-merely-because-it-is-ancient-nor-is-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“If you try to talk about a truth that’s merely moral, people always think it’s merely metaphorical. A real live man with two legs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton-2/if-you-try-to-talk-about-a-truth-that-s-merely-moral-people-always/) [G. K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton-2/) > [“When we are asked to swear in American courts of law—that we will tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”—we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/when-we-are-asked-to-swear-in-american-courts-of-law-that-we-will/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Do not seek after truth. Merely cease to hold opinions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/do-not-seek-after-truth-merely-cease-to-hold-opinions/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [It is not our task to secure the triumph of truth, but merely to fight on its behalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/it-is-not-our-task-to-secure-the-triumph-of-truth-but-merely-to-fight/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Hans Urs von Balthasar > [Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The work with which we embark on this first volume of a series of theological studies is a work with which the philosophical person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-work-with-which-we-embark-on-this-first-volume-of-a-series-of/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The Holy Spirit knows what a particular age's most pressing need is far better than men with their programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-holy-spirit-knows-what-a-particular-age-s-most-pressing-need-is/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The first attempt at a response: there must have been a fall, a decline, and the road to salvation can only be the return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-first-attempt-at-a-response-there-must-have-been-a-fall-a-decline/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [There is a moment when the interior light of the "eyes of faith" becomes one with the exterior light that shines from Christ, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/there-is-a-moment-when-the-interior-light-of-the-eyes-of-faith/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [But the issue is not only life and death but our existence before God and our being judged by him. All of us were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/but-the-issue-is-not-only-life-and-death-but-our-existence-before-god/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Faith means the fundamental response to the love that has offered itself up for me. It thus becomes clear that faith is ordered primarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/faith-means-the-fundamental-response-to-the-love-that-has-offered/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Hell is to be contemplated strictly as a matter which concerns me alone. As part of the spiritual life it belongs behind the 'closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/hell-is-to-be-contemplated-strictly-as-a-matter-which-concerns-me/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/what-you-are-is-god-s-gift-to-you-what-you-become-is-your-gift-to-god/) [Hans Urs Von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Above all we must not wish to cling to our suffering. Suffering surely deepens us and enhances our person, but we must not desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/above-all-we-must-not-wish-to-cling-to-our-suffering-suffering-surely/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The inner reality of love can be recognized only by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-inner-reality-of-love-can-be-recognized-only-by-love/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [To be a child means to owe one's existence to another, and even in our adult life we never quite reach the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/to-be-a-child-means-to-owe-one-s-existence-to-another-and-even-in-our/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [There is much in Christianity which can be subjected to exact analysis. But the ultimate things are shrouded in the silent mysteries of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/there-is-much-in-christianity-which-can-be-subjected-to-exact/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [“For all his gentleness and humility unto death on the Cross, God does not relinquish his attribute of being judge and consuming fire. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/for-all-his-gentleness-and-humility-unto-death-on-the-cross-god-does/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Lovers are the ones who know most about God; the theologian must listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/lovers-are-the-ones-who-know-most-about-god-the-theologian-must/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) [Explore all 73 Hans Urs von Balthasar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) ## More Foundation quotes > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [A loving family provides the foundation children need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bunning/a-loving-family-provides-the-foundation-children-need-to-succeed/) [Jim Bunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bunning/) > [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I was raised playing music in coffeehouses and I feel that was the foundation for my career. I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [God established the family as the foundation of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/god-established-the-family-as-the-foundation-of-civilization/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/coral-reefs-represent-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-beauty/) [Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/) [Browse all 3,310 Foundation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hans Urs von Balthasar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without-being-thought-anew-from-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foundation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without-being-thought-anew-from-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_foundation_a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without_194253.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital…” — Hans Urs von Balthasar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hans Urs von Balthasar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A truth that is merely handed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without-being-thought-anew-from-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without-being-thought-anew-from-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```