--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is strange to reflect how much energy…" description: "\"It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.\" — Joseph Barber Lightfoot" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/joseph-barber-lightfoot-20107_attempting_it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy_78952.jpg" --- # It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in… ![“It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.” quote by Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/joseph-barber-lightfoot-20107_attempting_it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy_78952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/joseph-barber-lightfoot-20107_attempting_it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy_78952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/joseph-barber-lightfoot-20107_attempting_it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy_78952.jpg) > “It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.” [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the futility of expending effort on understanding that which is inherently beyond comprehension. **In simple terms:** Limits of human knowledge. Key Takeaway Accept unknowable limits. Themes epistemology humility human limitation intellectual effort knowledge boundaries Mood thoughtful reflective humble Type philosophical cautionary inspirational When to use this quote - philosophical contemplation - scientific research - spiritual meditation - creative brainstorming Key Concepts cognitive bias uncertainty intellectual humility Practical Applications - guiding research focus - setting realistic expectations Questions to Reflect On - How do we decide what is worth pursuing? - What are the consequences of chasing the unknowable? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Unknowable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unknowable/) ## Related quotes > [“Our lives were limitless and unknowable, not perfect, but ours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenna-yovanoff/our-lives-were-limitless-and-unknowable-not-perfect-but-ours/) [Brenna Yovanoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenna-yovanoff/) > [The most important figures for management of any organization are unknown and unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-most-important-figures-for-management-of-any-organization-are/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [all the gods are the same unknowable mystery, just as each face of a jewel strikes light in a different direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-constable/all-the-gods-are-the-same-unknowable-mystery-just-as-each-face-of-a/) [Kate Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-constable/) > [“I loved her for what I couldn't understand about her. Love searches for the mystery in the beloved, seeks the unknowable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/i-loved-her-for-what-i-couldn-t-understand-about-her-love-searches/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [Music, because of its specific and far-reaching metaphorical powers, can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/music-because-of-its-specific-and-far-reaching-metaphorical-powers/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [“The Unknown is not the Unknowable; it need not remain the unknown for us, unless we choose ignorance or persist in our first limitations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/the-unknown-is-not-the-unknowable-it-need-not-remain-the-unknown-for/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [If the highest things are unknowable, then the highest capacity or virtue of man cannot be theoretical wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-strauss/if-the-highest-things-are-unknowable-then-the-highest-capacity-or/) [Leo Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-strauss/) > [“Throughout it all, you are still, always, you: beautiful and bruised, known and unknowable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/throughout-it-all-you-are-still-always-you-beautiful-and-bruised/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [There may be things that are completely unknowable to us, so we must be careful not to treat the limits of our knowledge as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/there-may-be-things-that-are-completely-unknowable-to-us-so-we-must/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [“If the essence of things is unknowable, the misery of man cannot be fathomed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-bavinck/if-the-essence-of-things-is-unknowable-the-misery-of-man-cannot-be/) [Herman Bavinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-bavinck/) > [There is only ever one answer to the question what did you do with your life, and it's the same--fleeting and unknowable--for every one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-wiggins/there-is-only-ever-one-answer-to-the-question-what-did-you-do-with/) [Marianne Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-wiggins/) > [Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/music-can-name-the-unnameable-and-communicate-the-unknowable/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [The more unknowable the mystery, the more beautiful it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/the-more-unknowable-the-mystery-the-more-beautiful-it-is/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [“Identity confusion... is as if somebody lost their mental road map and has no appreciation of who they are or what is going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-chefetz/identity-confusion-is-as-if-somebody-lost-their-mental-road-map-and/) Richard A. Chefetz > [Oh invisible, we view thee, O world intangible, we touch thee, o world unknowable, we know thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-thompson/oh-invisible-we-view-thee-o-world-intangible-we-touch-thee-o-world/) [Francis Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-thompson/) ## More by Joseph Barber Lightfoot > [God helping me, I will help my brothers and sisters in Christ, because they are my brothers and sisters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/god-helping-me-i-will-help-my-brothers-and-sisters-in-christ-because/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [Absolve me, teach me, purify me, strengthen me: take me to Thyself, that I may be Thine and Thine only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/absolve-me-teach-me-purify-me-strengthen-me-take-me-to-thyself-that-i/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [There will be no misgiving, no shrinking back, no calculation of overpowering odds, no terror of possible consequences, if you frankly accept the gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/there-will-be-no-misgiving-no-shrinking-back-no-calculation-of/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [To make your people understand what righteousness is, this must be the basis of all your teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/to-make-your-people-understand-what-righteousness-is-this-must-be-the/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [There will be no misgiving, no shrinking back, no calculation of overpowering odds, no terror of possible consequences, if you frankly accept the gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/there-will-be-no-misgiving-no-shrinking-back-no-calculation-of-2/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [The tillage of the soil occupies the vast majority of those who work for their own bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/the-tillage-of-the-soil-occupies-the-vast-majority-of-those-who-work/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [Words contract a significance which clings to them long after the condition of things to which they owe it has passed away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/words-contract-a-significance-which-clings-to-them-long-after-the/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [Yes, God is the end of your work, but He is the beginning also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/yes-god-is-the-end-of-your-work-but-he-is-the-beginning-also/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [This fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom. This consciousness of sin is the straight pathway to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/this-fear-of-the-lord-is-indeed-the-beginning-of-wisdom-this/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [Not only must the message be correctly delivered, but the messenger himself must be such as to recommend it to acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/not-only-must-the-message-be-correctly-delivered-but-the-messenger/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [So then put away, relentlessly away, all thought of the results. You cannot control them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/so-then-put-away-relentlessly-away-all-thought-of-the-results-you/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [But there is another danger besetting your path. I mean the error of regarding your own capacities instead of your work, of putting self-consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/but-there-is-another-danger-besetting-your-path-i-mean-the-error-of/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [Plant thy foot firmly in the prints which His foot has made before thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/plant-thy-foot-firmly-in-the-prints-which-his-foot-has-made-before/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [God gave you not a spirit of faithlessness, not a spirit of despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/god-gave-you-not-a-spirit-of-faithlessness-not-a-spirit-of-despair/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [Yes, forget your weakness, whatever that weakness may be. It is egotism, it is selfishness after. all, for it is a dwelling on self.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/yes-forget-your-weakness-whatever-that-weakness-may-be-it-is-egotism/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) [Explore all 31 Joseph Barber Lightfoot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I'm a dreamer and continue to dream of what can and will be, "Expecting great things from God, Attempting great things for God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/i-m-a-dreamer-and-continue-to-dream-of-what-can-and-will-be-expecting/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I swear you’re a woman. (Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. 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