--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men are merely on a lower or higher stage…" description: "\"Men are merely on a lower or higher stage of an eminence, whose summit is God's throne infinitely above all; and there is just as much reason for the w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg" --- # Men are merely on a lower or higher stage of an eminence… ![“Men are merely on a lower or higher stage of an eminence, whose summit is God's throne infinitely above all; and there is just as much reason for the wisest as for the simplest man being discontent with his position, as respects the real quantity of knowledge he possesses.” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg) > “Men are merely on a lower or higher stage of an eminence, whose summit is God's throne infinitely above all; and there is just as much reason for the wisest as for the simplest man being discontent with his position, as respects the real quantity of knowledge he possesses.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge and humility are linked; even the wise can feel discontent when aware of their limited understanding. **In simple terms:** Even the wise feel uneasy about their limited knowledge. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and continuous learning. Themes humility knowledge spiritual hierarchy Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - spiritual growth - self‑assessment Key Concepts philosophical reflection self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing limits inspire growth? - What role does humility play in learning? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on hierarchy can discourage confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discontent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontent/) [Eminence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eminence/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-merely-527562/) [Merely Lower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-lower-2513029/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Quantity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantity/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Simplest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplest/) [Simplest Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplest-man-1178756/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Summit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summit/) [Summit God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summit-god-2364621/) [Throne Infinitely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne-infinitely-2513030/) [Thrones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrones/) [Wisest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisest/) ## Related quotes > [Humanity starts at the level of the human consciousness and makes its deliberate way to the summit, which is God Consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/humanity-starts-at-the-level-of-the-human-consciousness-and-makes-its/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [Jesus is the simplest Man to copy for a simple life; I simply copy Jesus and it Feels best to copy Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mbuko/jesus-is-the-simplest-man-to-copy-for-a-simple-life-i-simply-copy/) [Michael Mbuko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mbuko/) > [The simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-simplest-man-with-passion-will-be-more-persuasive-than-the-most/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Wherever the human mind is healthy and vigorous in all its proportions, great in imagination and emotion no less than in intellect, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/wherever-the-human-mind-is-healthy-and-vigorous-in-all-its/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [We don't want to be the same as men, merely equal as human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heckler/we-don-t-want-to-be-the-same-as-men-merely-equal-as-human-beings/) [Margaret Heckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heckler/) > [War doesn't mature men; it merely pickles them in the brine of disgust and dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/war-doesn-t-mature-men-it-merely-pickles-them-in-the-brine-of-disgust/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [“When given freedom of speech, most men merely quote other men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/when-given-freedom-of-speech-most-men-merely-quote-other-men/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Why have such scores of lovely, gifted girls Married impossible men? Simple self-sacrifice may be ruled out, And missionary endeavour, nine times out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/why-have-such-scores-of-lovely-gifted-girls-married-impossible-men-2/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [The greater number of men are merely corporals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-greater-number-of-men-are-merely-corporals/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If men do not keep on speaking terms with children, they cease to be men, and become merely machines for eating and for earning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/if-men-do-not-keep-on-speaking-terms-with-children-they-cease-to-be/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [But I do say that educated and scholarly men, if they’re brilliant and creative to begin with—which, unfortunately, is rarely the case—tend to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-do-say-that-educated-and-scholarly-men-if-they-re-brilliant-and-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We must remember not to judge any public servant by any one act, and especially should we beware of attacking the men who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-must-remember-not-to-judge-any-public-servant-by-any-one-act-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-superiority-of-some-men-is-merely-local-they-are-great-because/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“I'm not trying to tell you," he said "that only educated men are able to contribute something valuable to the world. It's not so.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-m-not-trying-to-tell-you-he-said-that-only-educated-men-are-able-to/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/money-doesn-t-change-men-it-merely-unmasks-them/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Discontent quotes > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [“She was tired of the flaming thoughts of discontent that kept her awake at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/she-was-tired-of-the-flaming-thoughts-of-discontent-that-kept-her/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [“Comparison with myself brings improvement, comparison with others brings discontent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-jamie-chung/comparison-with-myself-brings-improvement-comparison-with-others/) [Betty Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-jamie-chung/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/any-writer-worth-his-salt-writes-to-please-himself-it-s-a-self/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [While the principles of our Constitution give just latitude to inquiry, every citizen faithful to it will deem embodied expressions of discontent and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/while-the-principles-of-our-constitution-give-just-latitude-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“And since he was seeing more and more people who were unhappy for no apparent reason, he was becoming more and more tired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/and-since-he-was-seeing-more-and-more-people-who-were-unhappy-for-no/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [You can spend your whole life complaining about how much you hate life or you can spend it finding new ways to love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-can-spend-your-whole-life-complaining-about-how-much-you-hate/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-grieve-and-dare-not-show-my-discontent-i-love-and-yet-am-forced-to/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Upon the profound discontent of the young in every country do I set my faith. I beg you, the young, to be discontented. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/upon-the-profound-discontent-of-the-young-in-every-country-do-i-set/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Love is maintain'd by wealth: when all is spent, Adversity then breeds the discontent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/love-is-maintain-d-by-wealth-when-all-is-spent-adversity-then-breeds/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [Everything becomes so problematic because of basic faults: from a discontent with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/everything-becomes-so-problematic-because-of-basic-faults-from-a/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [“One whisper, Judith, added to a thousand others will become a roar of discontent even”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/one-whisper-judith-added-to-a-thousand-others-will-become-a-roar-of/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) [Browse all 450 Discontent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men are merely on a lower or higher stage of an eminence, whose summit is God's throne infinitely above all; and there is just as much reason for the wisest as for the simplest man being discontent with his position, as respects the real quantity of knowledge he possesses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stage-of-an-eminence-whose-summit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discontent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stage-of-an-eminence-whose-summit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/john-ruskin-314_discontent_men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stag_2672345.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men are merely on a lower or higher stage of an eminence, whose summit is God's throne infinitely above all…” — John Ruskin", "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": "John Ruskin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men are merely on a lower...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stage-of-an-eminence-whose-summit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/men-are-merely-on-a-lower-or-higher-stage-of-an-eminence-whose-summit/#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 } } ] } ```