--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The King said, \"The third question is…" description: "\"“The King said, \"The third question is, how many seconds of time are there in eternity.\" Then said the shepherd boy, \"In Lower Pomerania is the Diamond..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/jacob-grimm-12275_eternity_the-king-said-the-third-question-is-how_2290727.jpg" --- # The King said, "The third question is, how many seconds of… ![“The King said, "The third question is, how many seconds of time are there in eternity." Then said the shepherd boy, "In Lower Pomerania is the Diamond Mountain, which is two miles and a half high, two miles and a half wide, and two miles and a half in depth; every hundred years a little bird comes…” quote by Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/jacob-grimm-12275_eternity_the-king-said-the-third-question-is-how_2290727.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/jacob-grimm-12275_eternity_the-king-said-the-third-question-is-how_2290727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/jacob-grimm-12275_eternity_the-king-said-the-third-question-is-how_2290727.jpg) > ““The King said, "The third question is, how many seconds of time are there in eternity." Then said the shepherd boy, "In Lower Pomerania is the Diamond Mountain, which is two miles and a half high, two miles and a half wide, and two miles and a half in depth; every hundred years a little bird comes and sharpens its beak on it, and when the whole mountain is worn away by this, then the first second of eternity will be over." The”” [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The tale uses hyperbolic imagery to illustrate eternity’s incomprehensible scale compared to human time. **In simple terms:** Eternity is far beyond our time. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of human perspective. Themes time perspective mythology Mood wonderful reflective Type mythic philosophical literary When to use this quote - philosophical - literary - cultural discussions - theological debates - educational contexts Key Concepts infinity relativity human scale Questions to Reflect On - How do we conceptualize the infinite? - What does this story say about human humility? A Different Perspective Eternity cannot be fully grasped through finite measures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [True love is not for a second, but for eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/true-love-is-not-for-a-second-but-for-eternity/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Perhaps life is like an hour glass, with dear ones the sand that slips from the upper glass--the earth--into the second--eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-george/perhaps-life-is-like-an-hour-glass-with-dear-ones-the-sand-that-slips/) [Margaret George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-george/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [The family is the most important unit in time and in eternity and, as such, transcends every other interest in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/the-family-is-the-most-important-unit-in-time-and-in-eternity-and-as/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [ You know, we'll hardly get our feet out of time \[and\] into eternity that we'll bow our heads in shame and humiliation. We'll gaze… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-know-we-ll-hardly-get-our-feet-out-of-time-and-into-eternity-that/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [We must often draw the comparison between time and eternity. This is the remedy of all our troubles. How small will the present moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ann-seton/we-must-often-draw-the-comparison-between-time-and-eternity-this-is/) [Elizabeth Ann Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ann-seton/) > [The Cross is the central event in time and eternity, and the answer to all the problems of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-cross-is-the-central-event-in-time-and-eternity-and-the-answer-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The present moment is the only aperture through which the soul can pass out of time into eternity, through which grace can pass out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-present-moment-is-the-only-aperture-through-which-the-soul-can/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Am I then to believe that the same God Who expends millions of years in slowly fitting this earth for man's habitation, will only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-allin/am-i-then-to-believe-that-the-same-god-who-expends-millions-of-years/) [Thomas Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-allin/) > [Without art we live under the illusion that there is only time, and not eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/without-art-we-live-under-the-illusion-that-there-is-only-time-and/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Some days the mere fact of seeing feels like perfect happiness... You feel so rich you long to share your jubilation with others. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/some-days-the-mere-fact-of-seeing-feels-like-perfect-happiness-you/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [Time I have only just a minute. Only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, can't refuse it. Didn't seek it, didn't choose it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-warren/time-i-have-only-just-a-minute-only-sixty-seconds-in-it-forced-upon/) [Christine Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-warren/) > [A hundredth of a second here, a hundredth of a second there-even if you put them end to end, they still only add up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/a-hundredth-of-a-second-here-a-hundredth-of-a-second-there-even-if/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [“Time is to slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/time-is-to-slow-for-those-who-wait-too-swift-for-those-who-fear-too/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/for-death-is-no-more-than-a-turning-of-us-over-from-time-to-eternity/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## More by Jacob Grimm > [“ "Turn and peep, turn and peep,  There's blood within the shoe  The shoe it is too small for her,  The true bride waits for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/turn-and-peep-turn-and-peep-there-s-blood-within-the-shoe-the-shoe-it/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“He who helped thee when thou wert in trouble ought not afterwards to be despised by thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/he-who-helped-thee-when-thou-wert-in-trouble-ought-not-afterwards-to/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“What is to become of us? How are we to feed our poor children, when we no longer have anything even for ourselves?” “I’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/what-is-to-become-of-us-how-are-we-to-feed-our-poor-children-when-we/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“Then she was terribly angry, and took him up and threw him with all her might against the wall. "Now, thou wilt be quiet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/then-she-was-terribly-angry-and-took-him-up-and-threw-him-with-all/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“would not feel me between your teeth. Come, take these two wicked girls, they are tender morsels for you, fat as young quails; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/would-not-feel-me-between-your-teeth-come-take-these-two-wicked-girls/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“Only preserve the love of God in thy heart, and all will go well with thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/only-preserve-the-love-of-god-in-thy-heart-and-all-will-go-well-with/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“cudgel! That's worth thy trouble,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/cudgel-that-s-worth-thy-trouble/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“A certain king had a beautiful garden, and in the garden stood a tree which bore golden apples.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/a-certain-king-had-a-beautiful-garden-and-in-the-garden-stood-a-tree/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“A merchant, who had three daughters, was once setting out upon a journey; but before he went he asked each daughter what gift he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/a-merchant-who-had-three-daughters-was-once-setting-out-upon-a/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“stood still and stared at them. 'Why do you stand gaping there?' cried the dwarf, and his ashen-grey face became copper-red with rage. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/stood-still-and-stared-at-them-why-do-you-stand-gaping-there-cried/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“to-morrow chop”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/to-morrow-chop/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“Open the door, my princess dear, Open the door to thy true love here! And mind the words that thou and I said By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/open-the-door-my-princess-dear-open-the-door-to-thy-true-love-here/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [How often when we are comfortable, we begin to long for something new!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/how-often-when-we-are-comfortable-we-begin-to-long-for-something-new/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“The huntsman then said that he was to give three beatings and one meal daily to the old donkey, and that was the witch;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/the-huntsman-then-said-that-he-was-to-give-three-beatings-and-one/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“The frog answered, "I do not care for thy clothes, thy pearls and jewels, or thy golden crown, but if thou wilt love me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/the-frog-answered-i-do-not-care-for-thy-clothes-thy-pearls-and-jewels/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) [Explore all 47 Jacob Grimm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) ## More Eternity quotes > [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Please not yet. Those are the three eternal words. Please not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/please-not-yet-those-are-the-three-eternal-words-please-not-yet/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [I think we all have a core that's ecstatic, that knows and that looks up in wonder. We all know that there are marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-barks/i-think-we-all-have-a-core-that-s-ecstatic-that-knows-and-that-looks/) [Coleman Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-barks/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [What does the future, that half of time, matter to the man who is infatuated with eternity?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/what-does-the-future-that-half-of-time-matter-to-the-man-who-is/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. 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