--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact that astronomies change while…" description: "\"The fact that astronomies change while the stars abide is a true analogy of every realm of human life and thought, religion not least of all. No existe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_analogies_the-fact-that-astronomies-change-while-t_2060520.png" --- # The fact that astronomies change while the stars abide is… ![“The fact that astronomies change while the stars abide is a true analogy of every realm of human life and thought, religion not least of all. No existent theology can be a final formulation of spiritual truth.” quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_analogies_the-fact-that-astronomies-change-while-t_2060520.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_analogies_the-fact-that-astronomies-change-while-t_2060520.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_analogies_the-fact-that-astronomies-change-while-t_2060520.png) > “The fact that astronomies change while the stars abide is a true analogy of every realm of human life and thought, religion not least of all. No existent theology can be a final formulation of spiritual truth.” [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Change is constant in human thought and society, while fundamental truths remain stable, so no single theology can capture ultimate spiritual reality. **In simple terms:** Ideas evolve, core truths stay. Key Takeaway Embrace humility in belief systems. Themes religion philosophy change truth humility Mood contemplative inquisitive Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - interfaith dialogue - academic study - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology epistemology metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tradition with new insights? - What core truths feel unchanging to you? A Different Perspective Religions often claim finality, ignoring ongoing discovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) [Astronomies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomies-3929276/) [Astronomies Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomies-change-3929274/) [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Fact Astronomies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact-astronomies-3929275/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Existent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-existent-3929277/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-truth/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [“Across the threshold’s sleep she entered in And found herself amid great figures of gods Conscious in stone and living without breath, Watching with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/across-the-threshold-s-sleep-she-entered-in-and-found-herself-amid/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [“Spiritual maturity results from practicing truth in everyday life, not from knowing truth in one's mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/spiritual-maturity-results-from-practicing-truth-in-everyday-life-not/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [The things of nature are the Lord's silent ministers, given to us to teach us spiritual truths. 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Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/give-him-a-mask-and-he-will-tell-you-the-truth/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [We need to approach the Bible each day with a spirit of deep humility, recognizing that our understanding of spiritual truth is at best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-need-to-approach-the-bible-each-day-with-a-spirit-of-deep-humility/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [I deal with spiritual truth which should never be sold and need never be bought. When you are ready it will be given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-deal-with-spiritual-truth-which-should-never-be-sold-and-need-never/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Only the Catholic Church protested against the Hitlerian onslaught on liberty. Up till then I had not been interested in the Church, but today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-the-catholic-church-protested-against-the-hitlerian-onslaught-on/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“It is, often, in the utter despair of humanness that we become willing to consider deeply spiritual answers. Although the door and the guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/it-is-often-in-the-utter-despair-of-humanness-that-we-become-willing/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Spiritual truth is something that is so far from us - without any form or name that we can imagine - that we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-green/spiritual-truth-is-something-that-is-so-far-from-us-without-any-form/) [Eugene Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-green/) > [“To be sure, just because the darkness and the light are equally sacred does not mean we benefit by becoming complacent about the darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehya-sky/to-be-sure-just-because-the-darkness-and-the-light-are-equally-sacred/) [Tehya Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehya-sky/) > [The deepest spiritual truths are always unutterable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-deepest-spiritual-truths-are-always-unutterable/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Harry Emerson Fosdick > [Nothing in human life, least of all in religion, is ever right until it is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/nothing-in-human-life-least-of-all-in-religion-is-ever-right-until-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Life asks not merely what you can do; it asks how much can you endure and not be spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/life-asks-not-merely-what-you-can-do-it-asks-how-much-can-you-endure/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-cynicism-and-fear-that-freeze-life-it-is-faith-that-thaws-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [“Whatever the situation and however disheartening it may be, it is a great hour when a man ceases adopting difficulties as an excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/whatever-the-situation-and-however-disheartening-it-may-be-it-is-a/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The all but unanimous judgment seems to be that we, the democracies, are just as responsible for the rise of the dictators as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-all-but-unanimous-judgment-seems-to-be-that-we-the-democracies/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Atheism is a theoretical formulation of the discouraged life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/atheism-is-a-theoretical-formulation-of-the-discouraged-life/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritations set into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-oyster-is-this-irritations-set/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The tragedy of war is that it uses man's best to do man's worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-tragedy-of-war-is-that-it-uses-man-s-best-to-do-man-s-worst/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [No one can be wrong with man and right with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/no-one-can-be-wrong-with-man-and-right-with-god/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [No man need stay the way he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/no-man-need-stay-the-way-he-is/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Preaching is personal counseling on a group basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/preaching-is-personal-counseling-on-a-group-basis/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Every year the inventions of science weave more inextricably the web that binds man to man, group to group, nation to nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/every-year-the-inventions-of-science-weave-more-inextricably-the-web/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [He who cannot rest, cannot work; he who cannot let go, cannot hold on; he who cannot find footing, cannot go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/he-who-cannot-rest-cannot-work-he-who-cannot-let-go-cannot-hold-on-he/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It is not marriage that fails; it is people that fail. All that marriage does is to show people up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-not-marriage-that-fails-it-is-people-that-fail-all-that/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind's eye and you will be drawn toward it. Picture yourself vividly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/hold-a-picture-of-yourself-long-and-steadily-enough-in-your-mind-s/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) [Explore all 123 Harry Emerson Fosdick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## More Analogies quotes > [I always use the analogy that when you go to a jeans store and put on a new pair of jeans, it's a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-always-use-the-analogy-that-when-you-go-to-a-jeans-store-and-put-on/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) > [ Kanye \[West\] just says the funniest analogies that are so random. I should start keeping a book - in 20 years, I'll have a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/kanye-west-just-says-the-funniest-analogies-that-are-so-random-i/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [Historical analogy is the last refuge of people who can't grasp the current situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historical-analogy-is-the-last-refuge-of-people-who-can-t-grasp-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Calvin: Today for show and tell, I've brought a tiny miracle of nature: a single snowflake! I think we might all learn a lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-today-for-show-and-tell-i-ve-brought-a-tiny-miracle-of-nature/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [For some people, getting pregnant is as easy as catching cold." And there certainly was an analogy there: Colds and babies were both caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/for-some-people-getting-pregnant-is-as-easy-as-catching-cold-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [That is why the analogy of stealing does not work. With a thief, we want to know how much money he or she stole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/that-is-why-the-analogy-of-stealing-does-not-work-with-a-thief-we/) [Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/) > [The nude does not simply represent the body, but relates it, by analogy, to all structures that have become part of our imaginative experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/the-nude-does-not-simply-represent-the-body-but-relates-it-by-analogy/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [His lessons were chock-full of analogies for a variety of musical situations. Those little things were my favorites. 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We probably just imagine things based on what we already know, and we run out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/imagination-runs-out-but-it-makes-sense-right-we-probably-just/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [Apt analogies are among the most formidable weapons of the rhetorician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/apt-analogies-are-among-the-most-formidable-weapons-of-the-rhetorician/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [In my photographic work I'm generally attracted to places that contain memories, history, atmospheres and stories. 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The essence of discovery is that unlikely marriage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-real-achievement-in-discoveries-is-seeing-an-analogy-where-no-one/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The expressive techniques of painting are capable of conveying an analogy but not an impossible photograph of a moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-vuillard/the-expressive-techniques-of-painting-are-capable-of-conveying-an/) [Edouard Vuillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-vuillard/) [Browse all 311 Analogies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact that astronomies change while the stars abide is a true analogy of every realm of human life and thought, religion not least of all. 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