--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I often wonder if my knowledge about God…" description: "\"I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my greatest stumbling block to my knowledge of God.\" — Henri Nouwen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png" --- # I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my… ![“I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my greatest stumbling block to my knowledge of God.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png) > “I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my greatest stumbling block to my knowledge of God.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects that intellectualizing God may become an obstacle, implying that over‑analysis can hinder spiritual experience. **In simple terms:** Thinking too much about God can block true understanding. Key Takeaway Balance study with experience. Themes faith knowledge spirituality humility Mood contemplative thoughtful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - prayer - theological study - personal doubt - spiritual growth Key Concepts theology mysticism self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How can one move from knowledge to lived faith? - What practices help soften intellectual barriers? A Different Perspective Intellectualism can create distance from lived faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) [Stumbling block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-block/) [Stumbling blocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-blocks/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“A spiritual and saving knowledge of God is the greatest need of every human creature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/a-spiritual-and-saving-knowledge-of-god-is-the-greatest-need-of-every/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come. If we never wonder, knowledge will never find us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grandfather/if-we-wonder-often-the-gift-of-knowledge-will-come-if-we-never-wonder/) Grandfather > [To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge! To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-truett/to-know-the-will-of-god-is-the-greatest-knowledge-to-do-the-will-of/) [George W Truett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-truett/) > [Once you get the script, you then hope you can get the director that you want. Then you hope he can get the cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/once-you-get-the-script-you-then-hope-you-can-get-the-director-that/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [There are in fact four very significant stumbling blocks in the way of grasping the truth, which hinder every man however learned, and scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/there-are-in-fact-four-very-significant-stumbling-blocks-in-the-way/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [God gave a law ... called justice. But they have made a law for themselves that is terrible and intricate, and they cannot escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-sampter/god-gave-a-law-called-justice-but-they-have-made-a-law-for-themselves/) Jessie Sampter > [The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-bible-and-the-church-have-been-the-greatest-stumbling-blocks-in/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“When stumbling blocks can become stepping stones, then these stones that the builders reject can equally become chief corner stones!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-stumbling-blocks-can-become-stepping-stones-then-these-stones/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [To be honest, making albums is really never easy. It's always a bit excruciating because there's always this fight to make it great, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/to-be-honest-making-albums-is-really-never-easy-it-s-always-a-bit/) [Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/) > [Women have ever been the stumbling block and betrayers of ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-desmond/women-have-ever-been-the-stumbling-block-and-betrayers-of-ambition/) [Arthur Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-desmond/) > [“One of the Secrets in Life is to Make Stepping Stones out of Stumbling Blocks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-penn/one-of-the-secrets-in-life-is-to-make-stepping-stones-out-of/) Jack Penn > [“Life is going to throw you some blocks. You will decide if they are going to be your stumbling blocks or your building blocks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saji-ijiyemi/life-is-going-to-throw-you-some-blocks-you-will-decide-if-they-are/) [Saji Ijiyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saji-ijiyemi/) > [Utopians...consider individual freedom as the stumbling block on which the grandiose idea of mankind's totalization may flounder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steven-molnar/utopians-consider-individual-freedom-as-the-stumbling-block-on-which/) Thomas Steven Molnar > [Obstacles are not opposing you, but merely and gently re-routing you. It is important not to view that which stands in your way as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/obstacles-are-not-opposing-you-but-merely-and-gently-re-routing-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Block quotes > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [When it comes to people I love and care about, I may condense the time, but I'm giving them every ounce of my energy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/when-it-comes-to-people-i-love-and-care-about-i-may-condense-the-time/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [One of those blocks (that prevent the 'Middle East from entering the mainstream of modernity') is the orthodox tenet that the Koran and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-beichman/one-of-those-blocks-that-prevent-the-middle-east-from-entering-the/) [Arnold Beichman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-beichman/) > [The family is the building block for whatever solidarity there is in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/the-family-is-the-building-block-for-whatever-solidarity-there-is-in/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I think you can train yourself to block out some of that pressure and replace it with confidence. It's about preparation, and the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-think-you-can-train-yourself-to-block-out-some-of-that-pressure-and/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [Writer's block? I've never heard of a plumber complain about plumber's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/writer-s-block-i-ve-never-heard-of-a-plumber-complain-about-plumber-s/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) Browse all 1,755 Block quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my greatest stumbling block to my knowledge of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god-has-not-become-my-greatest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Block" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god-has-not-become-my-greatest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e46/henri-nouwen-600_block_i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god_1361677.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my greatest stumbling block to my knowledge of God.” — Henri Nouwen", "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": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I often wonder if my knowledge...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god-has-not-become-my-greatest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-often-wonder-if-my-knowledge-about-god-has-not-become-my-greatest/#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 } } ] } ```