---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not ask for what useful purpose the…"
description: "\"“We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly, we ought not to as..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg"
---

#  We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing…

![“We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly, we ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the heavens. The diversity of the phenomena of Nature is so great, and the treasures hidden…” quote by Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg)

> ““We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly, we ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the heavens. The diversity of the phenomena of Nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.””

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The universe is designed with endless variety so that human curiosity is constantly stimulated and never runs out of wonder.

**In simple terms:** Nature’s endless variety fuels perpetual curiosity.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity as a lifelong source of inspiration.

Themes

curiosity science wonder knowledge exploration

Mood

awe inspired

Type

philosophical scientific inspirational

When to use this quote

- education
- research
- philosophical contemplation
- creative problem solving

Key Concepts

metaphysics infinite variety human intellect

Questions to Reflect On

- How does variety inspire learning?
- What limits does endless curiosity impose?

A Different Perspective

Human minds may become overwhelmed by endless mysteries without guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Heavens Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavens-diversity-5761257/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-birds-4924557/) [Secrets Heavens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets-heavens-617039/)

## Related quotes

> [We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-the-birds-do-sing-for-song-is-2/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [“Creatures perish in the darkened blind of quest, knowing intimations. Guessing and dreaming they pursue the real, faces turned toward the sky whispering secrets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mansur-al-hallaj/creatures-perish-in-the-darkened-blind-of-quest-knowing-intimations/)

[Mansur al-Hallaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mansur-al-hallaj/)

> [Just as the eye was made to see colours, and the ear to hear sounds, so the human mind was made to understand, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/just-as-the-eye-was-made-to-see-colours-and-the-ear-to-hear-sounds-so/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [...Those laws are within the grasp of the human mind. God wanted us to recognize them by creating us after his own image so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/those-laws-are-within-the-grasp-of-the-human-mind-god-wanted-us-to/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/)

[Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/)

> [The longer I live, the more it grieves me to see man, who occupies his supreme place for the very purpose of imposing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-longer-i-live-the-more-it-grieves-me-to-see-man-who-occupies-his/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [Life is so full of meaning and of purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that you will find that earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-giocondo/life-is-so-full-of-meaning-and-of-purpose-so-full-of-beauty-beneath/)

[Giovanni Giocondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-giocondo/)

> [The earth endured Christ's ministry only three years;--not three weeks after his real character and purposes were generally known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-earth-endured-christ-s-ministry-only-three-years-not-three-weeks/)

[Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/)

> ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [“The more that the human mind is enlightened, the more desirous it becomes of farther acquisitions in knowledge. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stewart/the-more-that-the-human-mind-is-enlightened-the-more-desirous-it/)

[Alexander Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stewart/)

> [“But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Whatever the Party holds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/but-i-tell-you-winston-that-reality-is-not-external-reality-exists-in/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [Dogma is a powerful way of closing human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-marley/dogma-is-a-powerful-way-of-closing-human-mind/)

[Peter Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-marley/)

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

## More by Johannes Kepler

> [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [If the moon and earth were not retained in their orbits by their animal force or some other equivalent, the earth would mount to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/if-the-moon-and-earth-were-not-retained-in-their-orbits-by-their/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [If God himself has waited six thousand years for someone to contemplate his works, my book can wait for a hundred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/if-god-himself-has-waited-six-thousand-years-for-someone-to/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [...Those laws are within the grasp of the human mind. God wanted us to recognize them by creating us after his own image so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/those-laws-are-within-the-grasp-of-the-human-mind-god-wanted-us-to/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Just as the eye was made to see colours, and the ear to hear sounds, so the human mind was made to understand, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/just-as-the-eye-was-made-to-see-colours-and-the-ear-to-hear-sounds-so/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [I had the intention of becoming a theologian...but now I see how God is, by my endeavors, also glorified in astronomy, for 'the heavens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/i-had-the-intention-of-becoming-a-theologian-but-now-i-see-how-god-is/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [ \[Quantity is the fundamental feature of things,\] the 'primarium accidens substantiae,' ...prior to the other categories. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/quantity-is-the-fundamental-feature-of-things-the-primarium-accidens/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Repudiating the sensible world, which he neither sees himself nor believes from those who have, the Peripatetic joins combat by childish quibbling in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/repudiating-the-sensible-world-which-he-neither-sees-himself-nor/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [If the earth were not round, heavy bodies would not tend from every side in a straight line towards the center of the earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/if-the-earth-were-not-round-heavy-bodies-would-not-tend-from-every/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Wherever there are qualities there are likewise quantities, but not always vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/wherever-there-are-qualities-there-are-likewise-quantities-but-not/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Where there is matter, there is geometry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/where-there-is-matter-there-is-geometry/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [The soul of the newly born baby is marked for life by the pattern of the stars at the moment it comes into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/the-soul-of-the-newly-born-baby-is-marked-for-life-by-the-pattern-of/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [ So, Fabricius, I already have this: that the most true path of the planet \[Mars\] is an ellipse, which Dürer also calls an oval,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/so-fabricius-i-already-have-this-that-the-most-true-path-of-the/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Ships and sails proper for the heavenly air should be fashioned. Then there will also be people, who do not shrink from the dreary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/ships-and-sails-proper-for-the-heavenly-air-should-be-fashioned-then/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

> [Gravity is a mutual affection between cognate bodies towards union or conjunction (similar in kind to the magnetic virtue), so that the earth attracts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/gravity-is-a-mutual-affection-between-cognate-bodies-towards-union-or/)

[Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

[Explore all 112 Johannes Kepler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/)

## More Human mind quotes

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Dogma is a powerful way of closing human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-marley/dogma-is-a-powerful-way-of-closing-human-mind/)

[Peter Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-marley/)

> [“The more that the human mind is enlightened, the more desirous it becomes of farther acquisitions in knowledge. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stewart/the-more-that-the-human-mind-is-enlightened-the-more-desirous-it/)

[Alexander Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stewart/)

> [“But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Whatever the Party holds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/but-i-tell-you-winston-that-reality-is-not-external-reality-exists-in/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [ It is certain that every class is interested in \[educational\] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-interested-in-educational/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [Just take one thing out and the whole palace, the whole edifice of the human mind collapses. Take effort out of it and desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-take-one-thing-out-and-the-whole-palace-the-whole-edifice-of-the/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Freedom is the very essence of our economy and society. Without freedom the human mind is prevented from unleashing its creative force. But what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/freedom-is-the-very-essence-of-our-economy-and-society-without/)

[Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/)

> [Charity is the filthiest invention of the human mind: first you steal what belongs to everyone; then you use the law and various other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/charity-is-the-filthiest-invention-of-the-human-mind-first-you-steal/)

[U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/)

> [“artificial intelligence is forcing human endeavor away from simple, algorithmic and repetitive tasks towards solving problems and incubating new ideas. It is the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyan-nagpal/artificial-intelligence-is-forcing-human-endeavor-away-from-simple/)

[Gyan Nagpal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyan-nagpal/)

> [“There are very few intellectual elites and those who think they are, are merely not and those who are not shows us the intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/there-are-very-few-intellectual-elites-and-those-who-think-they-are/)

[Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/)

> [“Story is one of the foundation stones of the human mind along with rhythm and chant. If a collection of facts lacks a narrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vehafric/story-is-one-of-the-foundation-stones-of-the-human-mind-along-with/)

[Frank Vehafric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vehafric/)

> [“A sense of security, a feeling that a truce was established between the present hour and the irresistible, disastrous future imparted to me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-shelley/a-sense-of-security-a-feeling-that-a-truce-was-established-between/)

[Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/)

> [What makes us human is not our mind but our heart, not our ability to think but our ability to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-makes-us-human-is-not-our-mind-but-our-heart-not-our-ability-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [This is one of the glories of man, the inventiveness of the human mind and the human spirit: whenever life doesn't seem to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-hansberry/this-is-one-of-the-glories-of-man-the-inventiveness-of-the-human-mind/)

[Lorraine Hansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-hansberry/)

[Browse all 1,417 Human mind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created for singing. Similarly, we ought not to ask why the human mind troubles to fathom the secrets of the heavens. The diversity of the phenomena of Nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Johannes Kepler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-the-birds-do-sing-for-song-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Human mind"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-the-birds-do-sing-for-song-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/johannes-kepler-4278_human-mind_we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-th_736904.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We do not ask for what useful purpose the birds do sing, for song is their pleasure since they were created…” — Johannes Kepler",
                "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": "Johannes Kepler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We do not ask for what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-the-birds-do-sing-for-song-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/we-do-not-ask-for-what-useful-purpose-the-birds-do-sing-for-song-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
