--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no extrahistorical or eternalist…" description: "\"There is no extrahistorical or eternalist or abstractivistically pure standpoint where we can get oriented in the absolute Truth per se before dealing ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/kenny-smith-2406_absolute-truth_there-is-no-extrahistorical-or-eternalis_2638786.png" --- # There is no extrahistorical or eternalist or… ![“There is no extrahistorical or eternalist or abstractivistically pure standpoint where we can get oriented in the absolute Truth per se before dealing with the concrete lineaments of how we happen exist in this time and place. We are participants in a dynamic system and we know its profile only by…” quote by Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/kenny-smith-2406_absolute-truth_there-is-no-extrahistorical-or-eternalis_2638786.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/kenny-smith-2406_absolute-truth_there-is-no-extrahistorical-or-eternalis_2638786.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/kenny-smith-2406_absolute-truth_there-is-no-extrahistorical-or-eternalis_2638786.png) > “There is no extrahistorical or eternalist or abstractivistically pure standpoint where we can get oriented in the absolute Truth per se before dealing with the concrete lineaments of how we happen exist in this time and place. We are participants in a dynamic system and we know its profile only by its action in organizing how we interact together and how we see our own selves. "The truth is the whole," and the whole is a system of living energy: our life as human and historical spirits.” [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## 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 argues that absolute truth cannot be grasped in isolation; we understand truth only through our lived, historical context and interactions within the dynamic system of humanity. **In simple terms:** Truth is known through lived experience, not abstract isolation. Key Takeaway Seek understanding within concrete contexts. Themes philosophy truth human experience systems theory Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - academic discourse - personal reflection - social activism - interdisciplinary research Key Concepts relativism holism participatory epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape your perception of truth? - Can you identify a moment when context changed your understanding? A Different Perspective Abstract truths may feel elusive without tangible examples. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Concrete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concrete/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Participants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participants/) [Profile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profile/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Selves Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selves-truth-2250610/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Standpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standpoint/) [Standpoint Oriented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standpoint-oriented-2250611/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-is/) [Truth Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-living-348004/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [“The best gift we can give other people is our whole selves in truth. By doing so we give them a true and accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-ping/the-best-gift-we-can-give-other-people-is-our-whole-selves-in-truth/) [A.C. Ping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-ping/) > [The only people mad at your for speaking the truth are those living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-mad-at-your-for-speaking-the-truth-are-those-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We obviously need the truth. We're living in a country of lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/we-obviously-need-the-truth-we-re-living-in-a-country-of-lies/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [Truth has no path, truth is living and, therefore, changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeet/truth-has-no-path-truth-is-living-and-therefore-changing/) [Jeet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeet/) > [“We all smiled because it was the truth: Living did take a lot more guts than giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-cook/we-all-smiled-because-it-was-the-truth-living-did-take-a-lot-more/) [Trish Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-cook/) > [If you're not living your truth, you're living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-curiale/if-you-re-not-living-your-truth-you-re-living-a-lie/) [Joseph Curiale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-curiale/) > [How can there be methods and systems to arrive at something that is living? To that which is static, fixed, dead, there can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/how-can-there-be-methods-and-systems-to-arrive-at-something-that-is/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“Truth makes little sense and has no real impact if it is merely a collection of abstract ideas. Truth that is living experience, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-a-ray/truth-makes-little-sense-and-has-no-real-impact-if-it-is-merely-a/) [Reginald A. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-a-ray/) > [“I think the truth to living fully is to appreciate what we have, day by day, regardless of what we know might come our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/i-think-the-truth-to-living-fully-is-to-appreciate-what-we-have-day/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [Loving truth and living honestly is my attitude to life. Be true to yourself and be true to others, thus you can be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ba-jin/loving-truth-and-living-honestly-is-my-attitude-to-life-be-true-to/) [Ba Jin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ba-jin/) > [“What is satya (truth)? When no living being is hurt through speech, is not hurt through conduct or one does not think any thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-satya-truth-when-no-living-being-is-hurt-through-speech-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living but existing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pier-giorgio-frassati/to-live-without-faith-without-a-patrimony-to-defend-without-a-steady/) [Pier Giorgio Frassati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pier-giorgio-frassati/) > [“truth is a living thing. It has a force inside it, an inner springiness. The truth can’t be denied or locked away, because when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hamilton/truth-is-a-living-thing-it-has-a-force-inside-it-an-inner-springiness/) [Tyler Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hamilton/) > [The only people mad at you for speaking the truth are those living a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-mad-at-you-for-speaking-the-truth-are-those-living-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the the universe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/by-the-power-of-truth-i-while-living-have-conquered-the-the-universe/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) ## More by Kenny Smith > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [One can hardly appreciate how academia has perverted its highest tasks and "ideals" without pondering long and hard the implications of Jacques Barzun's House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/one-can-hardly-appreciate-how-academia-has-perverted-its-highest/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [When academics claim a topic is obsolete, they mean merely they are tired of flogging it with their cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/when-academics-claim-a-topic-is-obsolete-they-mean-merely-they-are/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [If you look at the NBA, it's the richest and wealthiest group of African-American men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/if-you-look-at-the-nba-it-s-the-richest-and-wealthiest-group-of/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [In late modernity we grow more and more accustomed to politicians and public figures who are indebted to their appetites for their "values," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/in-late-modernity-we-grow-more-and-more-accustomed-to-politicians-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [How infinitely happier and more grateful is the whole personality or spirit when it finds something nourishing in art or writing or thinking, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/how-infinitely-happier-and-more-grateful-is-the-whole-personality-or/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There are a lot more famous fathers out there than me with daughters who wouldn't mind singing careers... but the talent and the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-are-a-lot-more-famous-fathers-out-there-than-me-with-daughters/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Games like 'Call of Duty' and 'NBA Baller Beats' have so much to them. I was more of the 'Pac-Man' generation where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/games-like-call-of-duty-and-nba-baller-beats-have-so-much-to-them-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [The Rockets have a philosophy of what they think their coach should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-rockets-have-a-philosophy-of-what-they-think-their-coach-should-be/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I've played more park games than NBA games, and I had a 10-year NBA career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-ve-played-more-park-games-than-nba-games-and-i-had-a-10-year-nba/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [I'm always the neutral guy, man. I'm able to bring people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/i-m-always-the-neutral-guy-man-i-m-able-to-bring-people-together/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [People compose the schedules they do out of the priorities they have; and someone who says otherwise is deceiving himself about what he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/people-compose-the-schedules-they-do-out-of-the-priorities-they-have/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [There's hasn't been a day in my life since I was 9 years old that I haven't touched a basketball or done something connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/there-s-hasn-t-been-a-day-in-my-life-since-i-was-9-years-old-that-i/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [You can have your own thought process about things, but you still need to include and co-exist with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/you-can-have-your-own-thought-process-about-things-but-you-still-need/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [NCAA is looking at how to do a better job enforcing their rules instead of looking at why the predatorial environment is created. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/ncaa-is-looking-at-how-to-do-a-better-job-enforcing-their-rules/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) [Explore all 168 Kenny Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) ## More Absolute truth quotes > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“When you’ve tired of me,” she said softly, precisely, “Apollo will still be my brother. Will still be there for me.” “I’ll never tire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/when-you-ve-tired-of-me-she-said-softly-precisely-apollo-will-still/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-m-morris/the-bodily-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead-is-the-crowning/) [Henry M. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-m-morris/) > [“I think adults forget just how much faith teenagers can have in them, just how willing to believe that adults, by virtue of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-think-adults-forget-just-how-much-faith-teenagers-can-have-in-them/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [The Absolute Truth of Knowledge is precisely non-Knowledge. If this Mirror called Knowledge remains in the phase where nothing is reflected in it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-absolute-truth-of-knowledge-is-precisely-non-knowledge-if-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Who can know what love means at the feet of the absolute truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/who-can-know-what-love-means-at-the-feet-of-the-absolute-truth/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/when-i-say-that-a-thing-is-true-i-mean-that-i-cannot-help-believing/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him. Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything. Because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-william-r-bright/attributes-of-god-because-god-is-spirit-i-will-seek-intimate/) [Dr William R Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-william-r-bright/) > [“Somehow I feel that a person who thinks he has discovered the absolute truth will not be someone I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/somehow-i-feel-that-a-person-who-thinks-he-has-discovered-the/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) > [“Leave science out of it and live in accordance with a non-scientific absolute truth. This has been the strategy of liberal humanism, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/leave-science-out-of-it-and-live-in-accordance-with-a-non-scientific/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-i-d-written-all-the-truth-i-knew-for-the-past-ten-years-about-600/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Only when we realize that there is no eternal, unchanging truth or absolute truth can we arouse in ourselves a sense of intellectual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/only-when-we-realize-that-there-is-no-eternal-unchanging-truth-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nobody-in-this-world-possesses-absolute-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It isn’t the absolute truth about life and death, but the thing that helps us to live and confront the challenges of day-to-day life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-the-absolute-truth-about-life-and-death-but-the-thing-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Browse all 317 Absolute truth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is no extrahistorical or eternalist or abstractivistically pure standpoint where we can get oriented in the absolute Truth per se before dealing with the concrete lineaments of how we happen exist in this time and place. 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