--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you wish to attain to true knowledge…" description: "\"If you wish to attain to true knowledge of the Scriptures, hasten to acquire first an unshakeable humility of heart. That alone will lead you, not to t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/john-cassian-13822_acquire_if-you-wish-to-attain-to-true-knowledge_2015531.png" --- # If you wish to attain to true knowledge of the Scriptures… ![“If you wish to attain to true knowledge of the Scriptures, hasten to acquire first an unshakeable humility of heart. That alone will lead you, not to the knowledge that puffs up, but to that which enlightens, by the perfecting of love.” quote by John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/john-cassian-13822_acquire_if-you-wish-to-attain-to-true-knowledge_2015531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/john-cassian-13822_acquire_if-you-wish-to-attain-to-true-knowledge_2015531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/john-cassian-13822_acquire_if-you-wish-to-attain-to-true-knowledge_2015531.png) > “If you wish to attain to true knowledge of the Scriptures, hasten to acquire first an unshakeable humility of heart. That alone will lead you, not to the knowledge that puffs up, but to that which enlightens, by the perfecting of love.” [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humility of heart is the foundation for genuine scriptural insight, leading to love‑based enlightenment rather than prideful knowledge. **In simple terms:** Humility opens true spiritual insight. Key Takeaway Practice humble learning. Themes humility spiritual growth love Mood contemplative hopeful Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - Bible study - personal reflection - conflict resolution - leadership development Key Concepts theology self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can humility transform your study? - What love‑based actions follow insight? A Different Perspective Humility alone may not guarantee understanding without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Enlightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightening/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [True knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-knowledge/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [In all of the history of mankind there has never been a time when we have had a greater opportunity to increase our knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/in-all-of-the-history-of-mankind-there-has-never-been-a-time-when-we/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [I hear no one boast, that he hath a knowledge of the Scriptures, but that he owneth a Bible written in golden characters. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/i-hear-no-one-boast-that-he-hath-a-knowledge-of-the-scriptures-but/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [“Without the knowledge of Scriptures, how can we be sanctified by the Holy spirit?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/without-the-knowledge-of-scriptures-how-can-we-be-sanctified-by-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The knowledge of this world is not considered knowledge, it is worldly knowledge. Scriptural knowledge is considered as instrumental knowledge. 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Different roads with different destinations, and the destinations color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-the-heart-of-christian-ethic-is-humility-at-the-heart-of-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If one introspects and says with humility of heart: "I do not yet know the truth, but I have to find it" , then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/if-one-introspects-and-says-with-humility-of-heart-i-do-not-yet-know/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Self-confidence may be mistaken for egotism if it is not accompanied by humility of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/self-confidence-may-be-mistaken-for-egotism-if-it-is-not-accompanied/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Without humility of heart all the other virtues by which one runs toward God seem - and are - absolutely worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-of-foligno/without-humility-of-heart-all-the-other-virtues-by-which-one-runs/) [Angela of Foligno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-of-foligno/) > [True knowledge is found only among those genuinely worshiping God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/true-knowledge-is-found-only-among-those-genuinely-worshiping-god/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [Umm... 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He goes down in the history books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/puff-daddy-is-a-great-party-thrower-he-goes-down-in-the-history-books/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [We didn't see what happen when Marines fired M-16s... We didn't see what happened after mortars landed, only the puff of smoke. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-banfield/we-didn-t-see-what-happen-when-marines-fired-m-16s-we-didn-t-see-what/) [Ashleigh Banfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-banfield/) ## More by John Cassian > [...just as the edifice of all the virtues strives upward toward perfect prayer so will all these virtues be neither sturdy nor enduring unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/just-as-the-edifice-of-all-the-virtues-strives-upward-toward-perfect/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [ ...the souls of the dead \[are\] not deprived of their intellectual faculties but... they also are not lacking in feelings such as hope and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/the-souls-of-the-dead-are-not-deprived-of-their-intellectual/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [...we should realize that there are three sources for our thoughts - God, the devil, and ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-should-realize-that-there-are-three-sources-for-our-thoughts-god/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [In proportion as the ardor of divine love brings you nearer to God, so will a larger concourse of saintly brethren flock to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/in-proportion-as-the-ardor-of-divine-love-brings-you-nearer-to-god-so/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [Everything we do, our every objective, must be undertaken for the sake of... purity of heart... we must practice the reading of the Scripture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/everything-we-do-our-every-objective-must-be-undertaken-for-the-sake/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [When we say 'hallowed be Your name' to God what we are really saying is 'Father, make us such as deserve knowledge and understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/when-we-say-hallowed-be-your-name-to-god-what-we-are-really-saying-is/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [When the soul is solidly rooted in... peacefulness, when it is freed of the bonds of every carnal urge, when the unshaking thrust of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/when-the-soul-is-solidly-rooted-in-peacefulness-when-it-is-freed-of/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [We are often indifferent to our brethren who are distressed or upset, on the grounds that they are in this state through no fault…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-are-often-indifferent-to-our-brethren-who-are-distressed-or-upset/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [The apostles were very sure that everything of theirs which had to do with salvation was a gift to them from God. 'Increase our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/the-apostles-were-very-sure-that-everything-of-theirs-which-had-to-do/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [...we must first scrutinize thoroughly anything appearing in our hearts or any saying suggested to us. Has it come purified from the divine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cassian/we-must-first-scrutinize-thoroughly-anything-appearing-in-our-hearts/) [John Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cassian/) > [“It is not an external enemy we dread. Our foe is shut up within ourselves. 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