--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The higher a man’s conception of God, the…" description: "\"“The higher a man’s conception of God, the better will he know Him. And the better he knows God, the nearer will he draw to Him, imitating His goodness..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_the-higher-a-man-s-conception-of-god-the_321642.png" --- # The higher a man’s conception of God, the better will he… ![“The higher a man’s conception of God, the better will he know Him. And the better he knows God, the nearer will he draw to Him, imitating His goodness, His mercy, and His love of man.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_the-higher-a-man-s-conception-of-god-the_321642.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_the-higher-a-man-s-conception-of-god-the_321642.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/leo-tolstoy-55_compassion_the-higher-a-man-s-conception-of-god-the_321642.png) > ““The higher a man’s conception of God, the better will he know Him. And the better he knows God, the nearer will he draw to Him, imitating His goodness, His mercy, and His love of man.”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lofty view of God leads to deeper understanding and closer imitation of divine virtues like mercy and love. **In simple terms:** Seeing God as great improves knowledge and moral imitation. Key Takeaway Seek higher spiritual insight. Themes faith morality spiritual growth divine imitation Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal prayer - community worship - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts theology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does a higher conception of God mean to you? - How can you practice divine love daily? A Different Perspective Higher concept may be abstract and hard to attain for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [The higher a man's conception of God, the better will he know Him. And the better he knows God, the nearer will he draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-higher-a-man-s-conception-of-god-the-better-will-he-know-him-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [We can have no conception of God higher than man, so our God is man, and man is God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-can-have-no-conception-of-god-higher-than-man-so-our-god-is-man/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The higher a man stands on the social ladder, the greater the number of people he is connected with, the more power he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-higher-a-man-stands-on-the-social-ladder-the-greater-the-number/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The higher man is distinguished from the lower by his fearlessness and his readiness to challenge misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-higher-man-is-distinguished-from-the-lower-by-his-fearlessness/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The higher a man climbs, the farther he has to fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-higher-a-man-climbs-the-farther-he-has-to-fall/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [The higher a man stands, the more the word vulgar becomes unintelligible to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-higher-a-man-stands-the-more-the-word-vulgar-becomes/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [If the nature of the work is properly appreciated and applied, it will stand in the same relation to the higher faculties as food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-kumarappa/if-the-nature-of-the-work-is-properly-appreciated-and-applied-it-will-2/) J. C. Kumarappa > [“The higher a man rises, the more things he must do without. There’s no room on the pinnacle except for the man himself. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/the-higher-a-man-rises-the-more-things-he-must-do-without-there-s-no/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-higher-a-man-is-in-grace-the-lower-he-will-be-in-his-own-esteem/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Angels are spirits, flames of fire; they are higher than man, they have wider connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/angels-are-spirits-flames-of-fire-they-are-higher-than-man-they-have/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [“Just as from dust is evolved the man, from the deeds which he does is evolved the higher man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/compton-gage/just-as-from-dust-is-evolved-the-man-from-the-deeds-which-he-does-is/) [Compton Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/compton-gage/) > [But the higher a man mounts, the greater may be his fall; all genius is a conquering of chaos, mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/but-the-higher-a-man-mounts-the-greater-may-be-his-fall-all-genius-is/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [With the I-ses higher man. Born off of Zion I-ses higher man him was the conquering lion. I-ses higher man is a de lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-youth/with-the-i-ses-higher-man-born-off-of-zion-i-ses-higher-man-him-was/) [Big Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-youth/) > [You are grown so very great now, yet the higher a man climbs the farther he has to fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-grown-so-very-great-now-yet-the-higher-a-man-climbs-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Higher Man does something worthy of admiration, it is an evidence of his Mastership, not the object of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/when-the-higher-man-does-something-worthy-of-admiration-it-is-an/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The higher a man’s conception of God, the better will he know Him. 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