--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a universal condition of the…" description: "\"It is a universal condition of the enjoyable that the mind must believe in the existence of a law, and yet have a mystery to move about in.\" — James Cl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_believe_it-is-a-universal-condition-of-the-enjoy_240928.jpg" --- # It is a universal condition of the enjoyable that the mind… ![“It is a universal condition of the enjoyable that the mind must believe in the existence of a law, and yet have a mystery to move about in.” quote by James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_believe_it-is-a-universal-condition-of-the-enjoy_240928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_believe_it-is-a-universal-condition-of-the-enjoy_240928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_believe_it-is-a-universal-condition-of-the-enjoy_240928.jpg) > “It is a universal condition of the enjoyable that the mind must believe in the existence of a law, and yet have a mystery to move about in.” [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind needs a guiding principle yet also space for unknowns to inspire curiosity and progress. **In simple terms:** We need rules and mystery to grow. Key Takeaway Balance structure with openness. Themes science curiosity creativity Mood inquisitive reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - research design - education - innovation - problem solving Key Concepts philosophy of science epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance certainty and wonder? - What mysteries drive your work? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on mystery can hinder decisive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [The existence of law is one thing; its merit or demerit is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-austin/the-existence-of-law-is-one-thing-its-merit-or-demerit-is-another/) John Austin > [“Two things fill the mind with every new and increasing wonder and awe, the oftener and the more steadily I reflect upon them: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/two-things-fill-the-mind-with-every-new-and-increasing-wonder-and-awe/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Everything requires time. It is the only truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/everything-requires-time-it-is-the-only-truly-universal-condition-all/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The right to err, which means the freedom to try experiments, is the universal condition of all progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-right-to-err-which-means-the-freedom-to-try-experiments-is-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Protecting life and human rights cannot just be a local affair, but a global, a universal condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perri-birney/protecting-life-and-human-rights-cannot-just-be-a-local-affair-but-a/) [Perri Birney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perri-birney/) > [“Believe not the existence of an emotion nobler than the compassion!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/believe-not-the-existence-of-an-emotion-nobler-than-the-compassion/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-rational-to-believe-as-it-is-our-very-existence-that-is-at-stake/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [I believe in the existence of a Supreme Intelligence pervading the Universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-believe-in-the-existence-of-a-supreme-intelligence-pervading-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [We all have within us a centered place of wisdom, harmony, and balance. 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Let them make the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/mathematicians-may-flatter-themselves-that-they-possess-new-ideas/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [The chief philosophical value of physics is that it gives the mind something distinct to lay hold of, which, if you don't, Nature at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-chief-philosophical-value-of-physics-is-that-it-gives-the-mind/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) [Explore all 64 James Clerk Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. 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