--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not at all incredible, that a book…" description: "\"It is not at all incredible, that a book which has been so long in the possession of mankind should contain many truths as yet undiscovered.\" — Joseph ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/joseph-butler-15390_bible_it-is-not-at-all-incredible-that-a-book_1207007.jpg" --- # It is not at all incredible, that a book which has been so… ![“It is not at all incredible, that a book which has been so long in the possession of mankind should contain many truths as yet undiscovered.” quote by Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/joseph-butler-15390_bible_it-is-not-at-all-incredible-that-a-book_1207007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/joseph-butler-15390_bible_it-is-not-at-all-incredible-that-a-book_1207007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/joseph-butler-15390_bible_it-is-not-at-all-incredible-that-a-book_1207007.jpg) > “It is not at all incredible, that a book which has been so long in the possession of mankind should contain many truths as yet undiscovered.” [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even ancient texts hold undiscovered insights, reminding us that knowledge is layered and evolving. **In simple terms:** Old books still have hidden truths. Key Takeaway Explore and question established ideas. Themes knowledge history discovery Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - personal reading - philosophical inquiry Key Concepts epistemology continuity Questions to Reflect On - What hidden truths might you uncover in familiar works? - How does revisiting old ideas shape current thinking? A Different Perspective Interpretations may be biased by modern perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truths/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“We must make the intellectual world safe for democracy. But in the conditions of modern mental anarchy, neither that nor any other ideal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/we-must-make-the-intellectual-world-safe-for-democracy-but-in-the/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [It is not easy for a person to do any great harm when his tenure of office is short, whereas long possession begets tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-not-easy-for-a-person-to-do-any-great-harm-when-his-tenure-of/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/advertisements-contain-the-only-truths-to-be-relied-on-in-a-newspaper/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Words are most malignant, the most treacherous possession of mankind. They are saturated with the sorrows of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sullivan/words-are-most-malignant-the-most-treacherous-possession-of-mankind/) [Louis Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sullivan/) > [The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodorus-gaza/the-gift-which-i-am-sending-you-is-called-a-dog-and-is-in-fact-the/) Theodorus Gaza > [Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/rivers-ponds-lakes-and-streams-they-all-have-different-names-but-they-2/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Poetry is the universal possession of mankind, revealing itself everywhere, and at all times, in hundreds and hundreds of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/poetry-is-the-universal-possession-of-mankind-revealing-itself/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I portray myself as wicked, hoping I will not be regarded as wicked. But I may be wicked in the biblical sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-flynn/i-portray-myself-as-wicked-hoping-i-will-not-be-regarded-as-wicked/) [Errol Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-flynn/) > [“The Bible isn’t a list of requirements; rather, it’s a list of results after experiencing God’s love. Following God isn’t an action but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-haas/the-bible-isn-t-a-list-of-requirements-rather-it-s-a-list-of-results/) [Peter Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-haas/) > [Scripture is not inerrant; believers are called to interpret biblical texts in light of tradition and reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/scripture-is-not-inerrant-believers-are-called-to-interpret-biblical/) [Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/) > [“And I pray mark how he begins: he sets not up trophies to himself, but triumphs in his God-- "I will love thee, O…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-steele/and-i-pray-mark-how-he-begins-he-sets-not-up-trophies-to-himself-but/) [Richard Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-steele/) > [Even Superman's name reflects his creators' biblical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/even-superman-s-name-reflects-his-creators-biblical-knowledge/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [ The fall \[of your soul\] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-into-duality-was-naturally/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Richard Dawkins regards faith as an evil to be eliminated; he takes all religious faith to be blind faith. (Dawkins says) ‘Scientific belief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/richard-dawkins-regards-faith-as-an-evil-to-be-eliminated-he-takes/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) ## More by Joseph Butler > [Every man is to be considered in two capacities, the private and public; as designed to pursue his own interest, and likewise to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/every-man-is-to-be-considered-in-two-capacities-the-private-and/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Every man hath a general desire of his own happiness; and likewise a variety of particular affections, passions, and appetites to particular external objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/every-man-hath-a-general-desire-of-his-own-happiness-and-likewise-a/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [The principle we call self-love never seeks anything external for the sake of the thing, but only as a means of happiness or good:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/the-principle-we-call-self-love-never-seeks-anything-external-for-the/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [However, without considering this connection, there is no doubt but that more good than evil, more delight than sorrow, arises from compassion itself; there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/however-without-considering-this-connection-there-is-no-doubt-but/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [There is a much more exact correspondence between the natural and moral world than we are apt to take notice of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/there-is-a-much-more-exact-correspondence-between-the-natural-and/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Virtue, as such, naturally procures considerable advantages to the virtuous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/virtue-as-such-naturally-procures-considerable-advantages-to-the/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Remember likewise there are persons who love fewer words, an inoffensive sort of people, and who deserve some regard, though of too still and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/remember-likewise-there-are-persons-who-love-fewer-words-an/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [This was the man, this Balaam, I say, was the man, who desired to die the death of the righteous, and that his last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/this-was-the-man-this-balaam-i-say-was-the-man-who-desired-to-die-the/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Love of our neighbour, then, has just the same respect to, is no more distant from, self-love, than hatred of our neighbour, or than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/love-of-our-neighbour-then-has-just-the-same-respect-to-is-no-more/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Pain and sorrow and misery have a right to our assistance: compassion puts us in mind of the debt, and that we owe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/pain-and-sorrow-and-misery-have-a-right-to-our-assistance-compassion/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [The object of self-love is expressed in the term self; and every appetite of sense, and every particular affection of the heart, are equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/the-object-of-self-love-is-expressed-in-the-term-self-and-every/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [The love of liberty that is not a real principle of dutiful behavior to authority is as hypocritical as the religion that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/the-love-of-liberty-that-is-not-a-real-principle-of-dutiful-behavior/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [Happiness does not consist in self-love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/happiness-does-not-consist-in-self-love/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [As this world was not intended to be a state of any great satisfaction or high enjoyment, so neither was it intended to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/as-this-world-was-not-intended-to-be-a-state-of-any-great/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) > [God Almighty is, to be sure, unmoved by passion or appetite, unchanged by affection; but then it is to be added that He neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-butler/god-almighty-is-to-be-sure-unmoved-by-passion-or-appetite-unchanged/) [Joseph Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) [Explore all 43 Joseph Butler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-butler/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. 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