Accounts Quote by Maimonides
“The generation of Isaiah did not require the detailed description; his account, "I saw the Lord," &c., sufficed. The generation of the Babylonian exile wanted to learn all the details. ...Isaiah was so familiar with it that he did not consider it necessary to communicate it to others as a new thing, especially as it was well known to the intelligent.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Guide for the Perplexed, Book III, Chapter 51
Isaiah’s brief vision sufficed because his audience already knew the content; later generations sought exhaustive detail.
In simple terms: Isaiah’s short account was enough for those familiar; later people wanted more detail.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when brevity serves the knowledgeable and when depth is needed.
Themes
knowledge
communication
historical context
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
educational
interpretive
When to use this quote
- theology study
- religious education
- historical analysis
- scriptural teaching
Key Concepts
exegesis
audience awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a concise statement more effective than a detailed one?
- How does audience familiarity shape the depth of explanation?
A Different Perspective
Over‑explaining can overwhelm or dilute the core message.
![“WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but also that which is apprehended by the soul, the conviction that the object [of belief] is exactly as it is apprehended. If, as regards real or supposed truths, you…” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fbb/maimonides-2639_articles_when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in_78488.jpg)
