--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A flower is a miracle, but it does not…" description: "\"A flower is a miracle, but it does not have the sight or speech to describe us. And our own ability is no greater than that flower when we try to descr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/john-templeton-3668_ability_a-flower-is-a-miracle-but-it-does-not-ha_1186935.png" --- # A flower is a miracle, but it does not have the sight or… ![“A flower is a miracle, but it does not have the sight or speech to describe us. And our own ability is no greater than that flower when we try to describe God. His infinity covers not only one planet, but the entire solar system and 100 billion suns. That doesn't mean he is limited in his ability…” quote by John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/john-templeton-3668_ability_a-flower-is-a-miracle-but-it-does-not-ha_1186935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/john-templeton-3668_ability_a-flower-is-a-miracle-but-it-does-not-ha_1186935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/john-templeton-3668_ability_a-flower-is-a-miracle-but-it-does-not-ha_1186935.png) > “A flower is a miracle, but it does not have the sight or speech to describe us. And our own ability is no greater than that flower when we try to describe God. His infinity covers not only one planet, but the entire solar system and 100 billion suns. That doesn't mean he is limited in his ability to be part of you.” [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human attempts to describe the divine are limited, like a flower lacking senses to convey its wonder. **In simple terms:** We cannot fully describe God. Key Takeaway Accept mystery, humility in faith. Themes faith humility theology Mood awe humble Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - theological study - artistic expression - personal reflection Key Concepts divine mystery human limitation language limits Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile belief with the limits of language? - Can mystery be a source of comfort? A Different Perspective Human language may capture aspects of the divine but not its totality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Billions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billions/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Flower Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower-miracle-291339/) [God Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-infinity-311899/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Solar system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-system/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [Meditation is silence. Silence is God In His Infinity's Smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/meditation-is-silence-silence-is-god-in-his-infinity-s-smile/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Yes, it is true. I am a miracle. I am a miracle like a tree is a miracle, like a flower is a miracle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/yes-it-is-true-i-am-a-miracle-i-am-a-miracle-like-a-tree-is-a-miracle/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [“I am trying to explain as quickly as possible my essential nature, that is, what manner of man I am, what I believe in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-am-trying-to-explain-as-quickly-as-possible-my-essential-nature/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [The idea of God, infinity, or spirit stands for the possible attempt at an impossible conception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/the-idea-of-god-infinity-or-spirit-stands-for-the-possible-attempt-at/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We are like droplets of water in an ocean of consciousness; individual to an extent, but those droplets together make up the ocean --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-icke/we-are-like-droplets-of-water-in-an-ocean-of-consciousness-individual/) [David Icke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-icke/) > [When we think of the height of God's infinity we should not despair of His compassion reaching us from such a height; and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/when-we-think-of-the-height-of-god-s-infinity-we-should-not-despair/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [I am firmly convinced that there is life after death, not in a primitive sense but as the entry of my completely finite person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/i-am-firmly-convinced-that-there-is-life-after-death-not-in-a/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [The Divine is simply that which science has not yet explained. In effect, God = Infinity - Human Knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/the-divine-is-simply-that-which-science-has-not-yet-explained-in/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“The unknown doesn’t bother me. I nod now and then to the beautiful women plucking the flowers in my gardens and I hear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nescio/the-unknown-doesn-t-bother-me-i-nod-now-and-then-to-the-beautiful/) [Nescio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nescio/) > [“Infinity fascinated her. How systems and universes could keep getting infinitely smaller in one direction and infinitely larger in another. How the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wunder/infinity-fascinated-her-how-systems-and-universes-could-keep-getting/) [Wendy Wunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wunder/) > [This is a living planet. Look around. Mars, Venus, Jupiter. Look beyond our solar system. Where else is there a place that works, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/this-is-a-living-planet-look-around-mars-venus-jupiter-look-beyond/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [We know there are billions of stars and planets literally out there, and the universe is getting bigger. We know from our fancy telescopes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-know-there-are-billions-of-stars-and-planets-literally-out-there/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Well I DO want to go up into space, but more than that, I'm dissatisfied with the fact that humans have only gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takafumi-horie/well-i-do-want-to-go-up-into-space-but-more-than-that-i-m/) [Takafumi Horie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takafumi-horie/) > [To seek freedom is the only driving force I know. Freedom to fly off into that infinity out there. Freedom to dissolve; to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/to-seek-freedom-is-the-only-driving-force-i-know-freedom-to-fly-off/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) [Wendy Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-farley/) ## More by John Templeton > [An attitude of gratitude creates blessings. Help yourself by helping others. You have the most powerful weapons on earth - love and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/an-attitude-of-gratitude-creates-blessings-help-yourself-by-helping/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I served for 42 years on the board of trustees of the largest Presbyterian seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and we had brilliant people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-served-for-42-years-on-the-board-of-trustees-of-the-largest/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [...Making people get over the concept that they've got the total proof. To get them to feel, 'Gee, I want to learn more. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/making-people-get-over-the-concept-that-they-ve-got-the-total-proof/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church - I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-have-no-quarrel-with-what-i-learned-in-the-presbyterian-church-i-am/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Anybody who had come up with a new concept would have been under suspicion for being out of step with the tradition or out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/anybody-who-had-come-up-with-a-new-concept-would-have-been-under/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Suppose you went to your priest and asked for help; he would refer you to the Bible. But if you went the next day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/suppose-you-went-to-your-priest-and-asked-for-help-he-would-refer-you/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Help yourself by helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/help-yourself-by-helping-others/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many media commercials encourage us to believe that if we buy a certain product, we can be physically appealing, or popular, or successful. According…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-media-commercials-encourage-us-to-believe-that-if-we-buy-a/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The idea that an individual can find God is terribly self-centered. It is like a wave thinking it can find the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-idea-that-an-individual-can-find-god-is-terribly-self-centered-it/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [I never ask if the market is going to go up or down because I don't know, and besides it doesn't matter. I search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/i-never-ask-if-the-market-is-going-to-go-up-or-down-because-i-don-t/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Many of us understand giving, but some of us may still be confused about the meaning of forgiveness. Some people may go through life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/many-of-us-understand-giving-but-some-of-us-may-still-be-confused/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [Not yet have I found any better method to prosper during the future financial chaos, which is likely to last many years, than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/not-yet-have-i-found-any-better-method-to-prosper-during-the-future/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The best investment with the least risk and the greatest dividend is giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-best-investment-with-the-least-risk-and-the-greatest-dividend-is/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [True peace is a quality you carry within yourself, regardless of external circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/true-peace-is-a-quality-you-carry-within-yourself-regardless-of/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) > [The other boys at Yale came from wealthy families, and none of them were investing outside the United States, and I thought, 'That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/the-other-boys-at-yale-came-from-wealthy-families-and-none-of-them/) [John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) [Explore all 125 John Templeton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A flower is a miracle, but it does not have the sight or speech to describe us. 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