--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’ve lost my point. It was to the effect…" description: "\"“I’ve lost my point. It was to the effect that you can assert the existence of something—Being—having not the slightest notion of what it is. Then God ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/marilynne-robinson-602_existence_i-ve-lost-my-point-it-was-to-the-effect_1089196.jpg" --- # I’ve lost my point. It was to the effect that you can… ![“I’ve lost my point. It was to the effect that you can assert the existence of something—Being—having not the slightest notion of what it is. Then God is at a greater remove altogether—if God is the Author of Existence, what can it mean to say God exists? There’s a problem in vocabulary. He would…” quote by Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/marilynne-robinson-602_existence_i-ve-lost-my-point-it-was-to-the-effect_1089196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/marilynne-robinson-602_existence_i-ve-lost-my-point-it-was-to-the-effect_1089196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/marilynne-robinson-602_existence_i-ve-lost-my-point-it-was-to-the-effect_1089196.jpg) > ““I’ve lost my point. It was to the effect that you can assert the existence of something—Being—having not the slightest notion of what it is. Then God is at a greater remove altogether—if God is the Author of Existence, what can it mean to say God exists? There’s a problem in vocabulary. He would have to have had a character before existence which the poverty of our understanding can only call existence.”” [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## 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 questions the difficulty of defining existence and God when our language and concepts are insufficient, suggesting that God precedes any notion of existence. **In simple terms:** We can’t fully describe existence or God with our limited language. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the limits of language when discussing metaphysics. Themes philosophy theology language existence epistemology Mood contemplative skeptical Type philosophical theological reflective When to use this quote - academic debate - personal reflection - theological study - philosophical writing Key Concepts Metaphysics semantic limits conceptual frameworks Questions to Reflect On - How do we discuss what we cannot define? - Can language ever fully express the divine? A Different Perspective Our concepts may never capture the true nature of being or divinity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-having-2806866/) [Existence Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-mean-1752150/) [God exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-exists/) [Notion God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion-god-646132/) [Understanding Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-existence-719181/) ## Related quotes > [“By the very notion that God does not exist an atheist embodies the idea of a supreme being by pondering the very existence he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hamilton/by-the-very-notion-that-god-does-not-exist-an-atheist-embodies-the/) [Tom Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hamilton/) > [“The qualities of any individual surely rest within the core of their imperfections. How can one be determined from the other without the impurity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-revert/the-qualities-of-any-individual-surely-rest-within-the-core-of-their/) [Matthew Revert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-revert/) > [For the word is dialectical in itself and at the same time is integrated into the whole of existence. By this I mean that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/for-the-word-is-dialectical-in-itself-and-at-the-same-time-is/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m shortchanging myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zanele-muholi/if-i-wait-for-someone-else-to-validate-my-existence-it-will-mean-that/) [Zanele Muholi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zanele-muholi/) > [“After all, in order to live happily, a man must know now and then a few moments of perfect blankness. Yet I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/after-all-in-order-to-live-happily-a-man-must-know-now-and-then-a-few/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [The universe does not exist 'out there,' independent of us. We are inescapably involved in bringing about that which appears to be happening. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-wheeler-iii/the-universe-does-not-exist-out-there-independent-of-us-we-are/) [John P. Wheeler III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-wheeler-iii/) > [For both art and the historical sciences are ways of experiencing in which our own understanding of existence is immediately brought into play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-georg-gadamer/for-both-art-and-the-historical-sciences-are-ways-of-experiencing-in/) [Hans-Georg Gadamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-georg-gadamer/) > [I think that obviously the quest for purpose, or meaning, or understanding to existence is something that I always think about, always deal with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/i-think-that-obviously-the-quest-for-purpose-or-meaning-or/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [For both art and the historical sciences are modes of experiencing in which our own understanding of existence comes directly into play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-georg-gadamer/for-both-art-and-the-historical-sciences-are-modes-of-experiencing-in/) [Hans-Georg Gadamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-georg-gadamer/) > [The way I see things, the way I see life, I see it as a struggle. And there's a great deal of reward I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-keitel/the-way-i-see-things-the-way-i-see-life-i-see-it-as-a-struggle-and/) [Harvey Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-keitel/) > [The mythology of the New Testament, also, is not to be questioned with respect to the content of its objectifying representations but with respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-bultmann/the-mythology-of-the-new-testament-also-is-not-to-be-questioned-with/) [Rudolf Bultmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-bultmann/) > [“Technically, according to the notion of the will of God, there is no such a thing as a competent surgeon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/technically-according-to-the-notion-of-the-will-of-god-there-is-no/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“The origin of superstition above given affords us a clear reason for the fact, that it comes to all men naturally, though some refer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-origin-of-superstition-above-given-affords-us-a-clear-reason-for/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To make sure that my blasphemy is thoroughly expressed, I hereby state my opinion that the notion of a god is a basic superstition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randi/to-make-sure-that-my-blasphemy-is-thoroughly-expressed-i-hereby-state/) [James Randi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randi/) > [“I was deeply moved by this, moved by how tremendous it felt to be so simply trusted, and I found myself thinking about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-hart/i-was-deeply-moved-by-this-moved-by-how-tremendous-it-felt-to-be-so/) [Miranda Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-hart/) ## More by Marilynne Robinson > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“I think sometimes there might be an advantage in making people aware how worn and stale these old transgressions are. 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A man can know his father, or his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/you-can-know-a-thing-to-death-and-be-for-all-purposes-completely/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I listen to Bach a great deal. In general I like to listen to hymns and liturgical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-listen-to-bach-a-great-deal-in-general-i-like-to-listen-to-hymns/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Every writer I know, when asked how to become a writer, responds with one word:Read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/every-writer-i-know-when-asked-how-to-become-a-writer-responds-with/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Faith for her was habit and family loyalty, a reverence for the Bible which was also literary, admiration for her mother and father. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/faith-for-her-was-habit-and-family-loyalty-a-reverence-for-the-bible/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Prayer is a discipline in truthfulness, in honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/prayer-is-a-discipline-in-truthfulness-in-honesty/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.’ There are pleasures to be found where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-full-soul-loatheth-an-honeycomb-but-to-the-hungry-soul-every/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I sometimes am discouraged by what seems to be a sort of conventional disparagement of humankind. I think often people feel that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-sometimes-am-discouraged-by-what-seems-to-be-a-sort-of-conventional/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Now that I look back, it seems to me that in all that deep darkness a miracle was preparing. So I am right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/now-that-i-look-back-it-seems-to-me-that-in-all-that-deep-darkness-a/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“My grandfather once told her if you couldn't read with cold feet, there wouldn't be a literate soul in the state of Maine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-grandfather-once-told-her-if-you-couldn-t-read-with-cold-feet/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“Cranky old Leviticus gave us—gave Christ—not only “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” but also the rather forgotten “Thou shalt love the stranger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/cranky-old-leviticus-gave-us-gave-christ-not-only-thou-shalt-love-thy/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Explore all 450 Marilynne Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) ## More Existence quotes > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/) [Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Universities are the cathedrals of the modern age. They shouldn't have to justify their existence by utilitarian criteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/universities-are-the-cathedrals-of-the-modern-age-they-shouldn-t-have/) [David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/) > [Just as everybody has the vote including women, I think children should, because as a child is conscious of itself then it has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/just-as-everybody-has-the-vote-including-women-i-think-children/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Browse all 7,646 Existence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’ve lost my point. It was to the effect that you can assert the existence of something—Being—having not the slightest notion of what it is. Then God is at a greater remove altogether—if God is the Author of Existence, what can it mean to say God exists? There’s a problem in vocabulary. 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