--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Invention is activity of mind, as fire is…" description: "\"Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; a sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern hidden aptitudes.\" — Martin Farquhar Tupper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png" --- # Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; a… ![“Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; a sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern hidden aptitudes.” quote by Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png) > “Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; a sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern hidden aptitudes.” [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind's creative power is as essential and dynamic as fire, sharpening perception to reveal hidden talents. **In simple terms:** Creative mind reveals hidden talents. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and sharpen perception. Themes creativity perception self‑discovery Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic pursuits - career planning - personal development - education Key Concepts psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice your hidden abilities? - What habits sharpen your insight? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints when idealizing intuition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Aptitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aptitude/) [Discern Hidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discern-hidden-5841718/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hidden Aptitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hidden-aptitudes-5841717/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Inventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventing/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Invention Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention-activity-5841716/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sharpening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharpening/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-sight-334614/) ## Related quotes > [“Discernment is first of all a habit, a way of seeing that eventually permeates our whole life. It is the journey from spiritual blindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-haley-barton/discernment-is-first-of-all-a-habit-a-way-of-seeing-that-eventually/) [Ruth Haley Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-haley-barton/) > [With the strength of his spiritual sight and insight the distance, and as it were the space, around man continually expands: his world grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/with-the-strength-of-his-spiritual-sight-and-insight-the-distance-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are various grades of spiritual sight. One grade enables a man to see the ordinarily invisible ether with the myriads of beings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/there-are-various-grades-of-spiritual-sight-one-grade-enables-a-man/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [The recovery of spiritual sight and the healing of physical blindness have much in common. Some of those whose bodily eyes were blind received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/the-recovery-of-spiritual-sight-and-the-healing-of-physical-blindness-2/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [The recovery of spiritual sight and the healing of physical blindness have much in common. Some of those whose bodily eyes were blind received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/the-recovery-of-spiritual-sight-and-the-healing-of-physical-blindness/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-i-had-eight-hours-to-chop-down-a-tree-i-d-spend-six-hours/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [To see the butcher slap the steak before he laid it on the block, and give his knife a sharpening, was to forget breakfast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/to-see-the-butcher-slap-the-steak-before-he-laid-it-on-the-block-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I'd like to thank Sony for their gracious hospitality, and for not repeatedly punching me in the face. If I seem a little nervous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-newell/i-d-like-to-thank-sony-for-their-gracious-hospitality-and-for-not/) [Gabe Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-newell/) > [One thing I have throughout my career, it felt like I did my best to align myself with quality artists, quality work, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/one-thing-i-have-throughout-my-career-it-felt-like-i-did-my-best-to/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [It is amazing how little effort most people make to improve control of their attention. If reading a book seems too difficult, instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/it-is-amazing-how-little-effort-most-people-make-to-improve-control/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [“The sharpening of the steel was less about the cutting edge of the blade than it was about the cutting edge of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/the-sharpening-of-the-steel-was-less-about-the-cutting-edge-of-the/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [We encounter the grinding wheels that sharpen our mental blades many places in life. Adversity, school, parents, spiritual guides, books, experience are all sharpening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kall/we-encounter-the-grinding-wheels-that-sharpen-our-mental-blades-many/) [Rob Kall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kall/) > [I didn't dare to dream of making money. But now of course, I've made many thousands of dollars sharpening pencils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rees/i-didn-t-dare-to-dream-of-making-money-but-now-of-course-i-ve-made/) [David Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rees/) > [The broad effects which can be obtained by punishment in man and beast, are the increase of fear, the sharpening of the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-broad-effects-which-can-be-obtained-by-punishment-in-man-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [A novel's whole pattern is rarely apparent at the outset of writing, or even at the end; that is when the writer finds out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-johnson/a-novel-s-whole-pattern-is-rarely-apparent-at-the-outset-of-writing/) [Diane Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-johnson/) ## More by Martin Farquhar Tupper > [Man liveth from hour to hour, and knoweth not what may happen; Influences circle him on all sides, and yet must he answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/man-liveth-from-hour-to-hour-and-knoweth-not-what-may-happen/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Hatred is the atmosphere of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/hatred-is-the-atmosphere-of-hell/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Mind is a kingdom to the man who gathereth his pleasure from ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/mind-is-a-kingdom-to-the-man-who-gathereth-his-pleasure-from-ideas/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Be understood in thy teaching, and instruct to this measure of capacity; precepts and rules are repulsive to a child, but happy illustration winneth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/be-understood-in-thy-teaching-and-instruct-to-this-measure-of/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [True wisdom, laboring to expound, heareth others readily; False wisdom, sturdy to deny, closeth up her mind to argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/true-wisdom-laboring-to-expound-heareth-others-readily-false-wisdom/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Power is seldom innocent, and envy is the yokefellow of eminence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/power-is-seldom-innocent-and-envy-is-the-yokefellow-of-eminence/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [There is a limit to enjoyment, though the sources of wealth be boundlessAnd the choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/there-is-a-limit-to-enjoyment-though-the-sources-of-wealth-be/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; There as thou sittest peaceful, communing with fancy, The precious poetry of life shall gild its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/solitude-delighteth-well-to-feed-on-many-thoughts-there-as-thou/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [God, from a beautiful necessity, is Love in all he doeth, Love, a brilliant fire, to gladden or consume: The wicked work their woe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/god-from-a-beautiful-necessity-is-love-in-all-he-doeth-love-a/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [A juggler's skill hath been long years alearning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/a-juggler-s-skill-hath-been-long-years-alearning/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [The seeds of first instructions are dropp'd into the deepest furrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/the-seeds-of-first-instructions-are-dropp-d-into-the-deepest-furrows/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [To-morrow is that lamp upon the marsh, which a traveller never reacheth; To-morrow, the rainbow's cup, coveted prize of ignorance; To-morrow, the shifting anchorage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/to-morrow-is-that-lamp-upon-the-marsh-which-a-traveller-never/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Speech is the golden harvest that followeth the flowering of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/speech-is-the-golden-harvest-that-followeth-the-flowering-of-thought/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Lay not the plummet to the line; religion hath no landmarks; no human keenness can discern the subtle shades of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/lay-not-the-plummet-to-the-line-religion-hath-no-landmarks-no-human/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [Alike to the slave and his oppressor cometh night with sweet refreshment, and half of the life of the most wretched is gladdened by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/alike-to-the-slave-and-his-oppressor-cometh-night-with-sweet/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) [Explore all 116 Martin Farquhar Tupper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [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/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; a sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern hidden aptitudes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Farquhar Tupper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is-air-in-motion-a-sharpening/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is-air-in-motion-a-sharpening/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_activity_invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is_3183362.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Invention is activity of mind, as fire is air in motion; a sharpening of the spiritual sight, to discern…” — Martin Farquhar Tupper", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Farquhar Tupper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Invention is activity of mind, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is-air-in-motion-a-sharpening/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/invention-is-activity-of-mind-as-fire-is-air-in-motion-a-sharpening/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```