--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My desire for knowledge is intermittent…" description: "\"“My desire for knowledge is intermittent, but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The highest that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/henry-david-thoreau-20_heaven-and-earth_my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent_1417171.jpg" --- # My desire for knowledge is intermittent, but my desire to… ![“My desire for knowledge is intermittent, but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The highest that we can attain to is not Knowledge, but Sympathy with Intelligence. I do not know that this higher knowledge amounts to anything more definite than a…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/henry-david-thoreau-20_heaven-and-earth_my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent_1417171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/henry-david-thoreau-20_heaven-and-earth_my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent_1417171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/henry-david-thoreau-20_heaven-and-earth_my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent_1417171.jpg) > ““My desire for knowledge is intermittent, but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The highest that we can attain to is not Knowledge, but Sympathy with Intelligence. I do not know that this higher knowledge amounts to anything more definite than a novel and grand surprise on a sudden revelation of the insufficiency of all that we called Knowledge before,—a discovery that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy. It is the lighting up of the mist by the sun. Man cannot know in any higher sense than this, any more than he can look serenely and with impunity in the face of the sun: “You will not perceive that, as perceiving a particular thing,” say the Chaldean Oracles.”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoreau suggests that true insight comes from experiencing the unknown, not just accumulating facts, and that this deeper understanding feels like a sudden, awe‑inspiring revelation. **In simple terms:** Knowledge alone isn’t enough; wonder and insight matter more. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that expand perception beyond facts. Themes philosophy curiosity humility Mood reflective inquisitive contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - travel - reading - meditation - scientific research - artistic creation Key Concepts epistemology transcendence wonder Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance factual learning with awe? - What unknowns inspire you most? A Different Perspective It may be romanticized; not everyone feels profound insight from mystery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-knowledge-673520/) [Desire Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-knowledge/) [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Higher Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-knowledge-684833/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Intermittent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-intermittent-3304364/) [Knowledge Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-sympathy-3304365/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Self -awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness/) ## Related quotes > [My desire for knowledge is intermittent; but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent-but-my-desire-to-bathe-my/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [My desire for knowledge is intermittent; but my desire to commune with the spirit of the universe, to be intoxicated with the fumes, call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/my-desire-for-knowledge-is-intermittent-but-my-desire-to-commune-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The highest that we can attain to is not Knowledge, but Sympathy with Intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-highest-that-we-can-attain-to-is-not-knowledge-but-sympathy-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We have heard of a Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. It is said that knowledge is power, and the like. Methinks there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-have-heard-of-a-society-for-the-diffusion-of-useful-knowledge-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“What we will call beautiful Knowledge, a knowledge useful in a higher sense: for what is most of our boated so-called knowledge but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-we-will-call-beautiful-knowledge-a-knowledge-useful-in-a-higher/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“What is most of our boasted so-called knowledge but a conceit that we know something, which robs us of the advantage of our actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-most-of-our-boasted-so-called-knowledge-but-a-conceit-that-we/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The humanitarian lays stress almost solely upon breadth of knowledge and sympathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-babbitt/the-humanitarian-lays-stress-almost-solely-upon-breadth-of-knowledge/) [Irving Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-babbitt/) > [Use your gifts faithfully, and they shall be enlarged; practice what you know, and you shall attain to higher knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/use-your-gifts-faithfully-and-they-shall-be-enlarged-practice-what/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [In India there was a sense of time that does not tick with modern clocks, just as there is a knowledge that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/in-india-there-was-a-sense-of-time-that-does-not-tick-with-modern/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [What I sell is the higher knowledge of knowing what's next and not following the trend of what's now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/what-i-sell-is-the-higher-knowledge-of-knowing-what-s-next-and-not/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [What I sell is the higher knowledge of knowing whats next and not following the trend of whats now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/what-i-sell-is-the-higher-knowledge-of-knowing-whats-next-and-not/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [The higher knowledge, the higher responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ahkam-a/the-higher-knowledge-the-higher-responsibility/) [Muhammad Ahkam A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ahkam-a/) > [ Acquisition of \[higher\] knowledge is not the end, but the means to the end; the end consists of the attainment, thanks to this knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/acquisition-of-higher-knowledge-is-not-the-end-but-the-means-to-the/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [For every one step that you take in the pursuit of higher knowledge, take three steps in the perfection of your own character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/for-every-one-step-that-you-take-in-the-pursuit-of-higher-knowledge/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [The Absolute Truth of Knowledge is precisely non-Knowledge. If this Mirror called Knowledge remains in the phase where nothing is reflected in it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-absolute-truth-of-knowledge-is-precisely-non-knowledge-if-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Heaven and earth quotes > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [“Make peace with yourself, and both heaven and earth will make peace with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-isaac-the-syrian/make-peace-with-yourself-and-both-heaven-and-earth-will-make-peace/) [St. Isaac the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-isaac-the-syrian/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“I’ll move heaven and earth to make you happy, Evie. I want you there when I wake up every morning and there when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-raye-harris/i-ll-move-heaven-and-earth-to-make-you-happy-evie-i-want-you-there/) [Lynn Raye Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-raye-harris/) > [Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference and heaven and earth are set apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/do-not-like-do-not-dislike-all-will-then-be-clear-make-a-hairbreadth/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [There is a thing inherent and natural which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, It stands alone and never changes; It pervades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/there-is-a-thing-inherent-and-natural-which-existed-before-heaven-and/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Therefore the Tao is great;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-the-tao-is-great/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“This is what is called 'The mysterious Quality' (of the Tao).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/this-is-what-is-called-the-mysterious-quality-of-the-tao/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [They say that God lives very high! But if you look above the pines You cannot see our God. And why? And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/they-say-that-god-lives-very-high-but-if-you-look-above-the-pines-you/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Affection as a essential principle of relatedness is of the greatest importance of relationships in the world. For the union of heaven and earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/affection-as-a-essential-principle-of-relatedness-is-of-the-greatest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. 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