--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like to talk about it in those…" description: "\"I don't like to talk about it in those terms; it's impossible to describe who or what God \"is.\" Suppose you were a horse, and you were asked to describ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-shelby-spong-1488_horse_i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-it-in-those-t_1459403.png" --- # I don't like to talk about it in those terms; it's… ![“I don't like to talk about it in those terms; it's impossible to describe who or what God "is." Suppose you were a horse, and you were asked to describe what a human being was like. You couldn't do it.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-shelby-spong-1488_horse_i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-it-in-those-t_1459403.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-shelby-spong-1488_horse_i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-it-in-those-t_1459403.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-shelby-spong-1488_horse_i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-it-in-those-t_1459403.png) > “I don't like to talk about it in those terms; it's impossible to describe who or what God "is." Suppose you were a horse, and you were asked to describe what a human being was like. You couldn't do it.” [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God transcends human language; any attempt to define divine nature with human categories fails. **In simple terms:** God is beyond words. Key Takeaway Accept mystery over definition. Themes theology language mystery Mood contemplative humble Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - personal prayer - philosophical study - artistic expression Key Concepts Transcendence ineffability anthropomorphism Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor mystery while seeking meaning? - What language can convey the ineffable? A Different Perspective Human concepts can limit understanding of the divine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) ## Related quotes > [A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human"?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goldman/a-philosopher-once-asked-are-we-human-because-we-gaze-at-the-stars-or-2/) [Jane Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goldman/) > [A philosopher once asked, "Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?" Pointless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/a-philosopher-once-asked-are-we-human-because-we-gaze-at-the-stars-or/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Since it is impossible, without God, to come to knowledge of God, he teaches men through his Word to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/since-it-is-impossible-without-god-to-come-to-knowledge-of-god-he/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [“The less instructed atheist will ask whether God can make a weight so heavy that He cannot lift it, in the happy belief that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sheed/the-less-instructed-atheist-will-ask-whether-god-can-make-a-weight-so/) [Frank Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sheed/) > [“No concept of God independent of the reality of Jesus Christ may decide what is possible and impossible for God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eberhard-j-ngel/no-concept-of-god-independent-of-the-reality-of-jesus-christ-may/) [Eberhard Jüngel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eberhard-j-ngel/) > [What is impossible to God? Not that which is difficult to His power, but that which is contrary to His nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose/what-is-impossible-to-god-not-that-which-is-difficult-to-his-power/) [Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose/) > [It is possible that you might forget God but impossible that God will forget you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-khashane-msendevu/it-is-possible-that-you-might-forget-god-but-impossible-that-god-will/) [Wilson Khashane Msendevu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-khashane-msendevu/) > [God is the God of the impossible, as well as the God of the possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-roloff/god-is-the-god-of-the-impossible-as-well-as-the-god-of-the-possible/) [Lester Roloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-roloff/) > [ “\[I\]t's impossible to please God in any other way that wholehearted surrender...” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/i-t-s-impossible-to-please-god-in-any-other-way-that-wholehearted/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > ["Without faith it is impossible to please God," and without faith it is impossible for you to become great. The distinguishing characteristic of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/without-faith-it-is-impossible-to-please-god-and-without-faith-it-is/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [Nothing is impossible when God is on your side..Good morning.think positive..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/nothing-is-impossible-when-god-is-on-your-side-good-morning-think/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-is-impossible-to-please-god-without-faith-anyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No-one knows enough to righteously say something is impossible. “With God ALL things are possible.” Now tell me, what does that leave out?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/no-one-knows-enough-to-righteously-say-something-is-impossible-with/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men, it is impossible. But not with God. With God, all things are possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-10-27/but-jesus-looked-at-them-and-said-with-men-it-is-impossible-but-not/) Mark 10 27 > [We need never refrain from asking anything of God simply on the ground that we think it impossible. God specializes in "impossible" things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-eugene-simcox/we-need-never-refrain-from-asking-anything-of-god-simply-on-the/) Carroll Eugene Simcox ## More by John Shelby Spong > [The way that I see Christianity is that its role is to enhance the life of every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-way-that-i-see-christianity-is-that-its-role-is-to-enhance-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Sins of Scripture is an interesting title; most people don't put sins and scripture together in the same title. It jars people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-sins-of-scripture-is-an-interesting-title-most-people-don-t-put/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“When a human life is open to all that humanity can be, humanity and divinity flow together as one. It was and is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-a-human-life-is-open-to-all-that-humanity-can-be-humanity-and/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. The primary reason the old idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-don-t-see-jesus-as-rescuing-the-fallen-i-see-jesus-as-expanding-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible interprets life from its particular perspective; it does not record in a factual way the human journey through history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-interprets-life-from-its-particular-perspective-it-does-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/my-basis-of-morality-is-this-does-this-action-enhance-life-or-does-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I want the traditional family upheld, but I don't want it upheld to the detriment of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-want-the-traditional-family-upheld-but-i-don-t-want-it-upheld-to/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-live-in-a-very-pluralistic-society-today-there-are-buddhists/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Bible was written between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and it's filled with the knowledge that people had in that period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-bible-was-written-between-3-000-and-2-000-years-ago-and-it-s/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We are in a survival mentality, and that's hard-wired into our humanity, because we are the winners of an evolutionary struggle of millions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-are-in-a-survival-mentality-and-that-s-hard-wired-into-our/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Some people think prayer stops bullets or rockets or land mines. It doesn't. That's magic, that's not God. Sometimes, you're just in the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/some-people-think-prayer-stops-bullets-or-rockets-or-land-mines-it/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Hebrew scriptures say it's okay to enslave anybody except your fellow Jews. It says you should enslave only your neighbors. I say to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-hebrew-scriptures-say-it-s-okay-to-enslave-anybody-except-your/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [ I know Jerry \[Falwell\] fairly well, and he's probably not bright enough to recognize all of the implications of what he said. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-know-jerry-falwell-fairly-well-and-he-s-probably-not-bright-enough/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. They're not deviant. They're deviant only if you say that anyone who is different from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/benedict-xvi-kept-saying-that-homosexuals-are-deviant-they-re-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [ I find it fascinating that Paul \[the apostol\], writing to the Galatians, responds to the question, "What does it mean to live in Christ?"… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-find-it-fascinating-that-paul-the-apostol-writing-to-the-galatians/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) [Explore all 236 John Shelby Spong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## More Horse quotes > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. 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I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [Plato compared the intellect to a charioteer guiding the powerful horses of the passions, i.e., he gave it both the power of perception and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-cattell/plato-compared-the-intellect-to-a-charioteer-guiding-the-powerful/) [Raymond Cattell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-cattell/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [If some beggar steals a bridle he'll be hung by a man who's stolen a horse. There's no surer justice in the world than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peire-cardenal/if-some-beggar-steals-a-bridle-he-ll-be-hung-by-a-man-who-s-stolen-a/) Peire Cardenal > [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [“I have never heard anyone say, 'Oh, ick! A horse!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-goulding-smith/i-have-never-heard-anyone-say-oh-ick-a-horse/) Elinor Goulding Smith > [My friends and I would get up early and take our horses through the national forest. My mom was very free. 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