---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say that everything is idea or that…"
description: "\"“To say that everything is idea or that everything is spirit, is the same as saying that everything is matter or that everything is energy, for if ever..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png"
---

#  To say that everything is idea or that everything is…

![“To say that everything is idea or that everything is spirit, is the same as saying that everything is matter or that everything is energy, for if everything is idea or spirit, just as my consciousness is, it is not plain why the diamond should not endure for ever, if my consciousness, because it…” quote by Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png)

> ““To say that everything is idea or that everything is spirit, is the same as saying that everything is matter or that everything is energy, for if everything is idea or spirit, just as my consciousness is, it is not plain why the diamond should not endure for ever, if my consciousness, because it is idea or spirit, endures forever.””

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

## 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 equates ideas/spirit with matter/energy, suggesting that if consciousness is eternal, then physical forms like diamonds could also be eternal.

**In simple terms:** If mind is eternal, physical things might last forever.

Key Takeaway

Consider the nature of permanence.

Themes

philosophy metaphysics eternity

Mood

contemplative curious

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

- theology
- personal reflection
- scientific speculation
- artistic expression

Key Concepts

consciousness materialism dualism

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean for something to endure forever?
- Can consciousness truly affect physical reality?

A Different Perspective

It assumes consciousness is identical to matter, which is debated.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Endure Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure-consciousness-4375247/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Saying Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-matter-4375246/) [Spirit Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-saying-1817655/)

## Related quotes

> [I personally don't lock in a performance, because I do leave room for things to happen, so I just make sure I'm very intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-personally-don-t-lock-in-a-performance-because-i-do-leave-room-for/)

[Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/)

> [“It is important to remember that anytime you feel the need to begin a conversation with the words, "I probably shouldn't tell you this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morris/it-is-important-to-remember-that-anytime-you-feel-the-need-to-begin-a/)

[Robert Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morris/)

> [How can you live without knowing what your spirit is doing and what your spirit is saying to you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/how-can-you-live-without-knowing-what-your-spirit-is-doing-and-what/)

[Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/)

> [We avoid sensuousness, only by resorting to simple negation. We come at last to define spirit by saying that it is not matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/we-avoid-sensuousness-only-by-resorting-to-simple-negation-we-come-at/)

[Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/)

> [“the Holy Spirit is saying to you today, “I love you even in your brokenness and weakness. You are my beloved child. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-simmons/the-holy-spirit-is-saying-to-you-today-i-love-you-even-in-your/)

[Brian Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-simmons/)

> [“Some people pick up on one part of what you say, twist it, and go off into excess and error and create confusion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-hagin-2/some-people-pick-up-on-one-part-of-what-you-say-twist-it-and-go-off/)

[Kenneth E Hagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-hagin-2/)

> [“The day each of us was born, we were given that energy—minute bits of electrochemical energy which feed small but important messages to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shad-helmstetter/the-day-each-of-us-was-born-we-were-given-that-energy-minute-bits-of/)

[Shad Helmstetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shad-helmstetter/)

> [Man alone, during his brief existence on this earth, is free to examine, to know, to criticize, and to create. In this freedom lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-nanda-anshen/man-alone-during-his-brief-existence-on-this-earth-is-free-to-examine/)

[Ruth Nanda Anshen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-nanda-anshen/)

> [I know there's a consciousness energy that operates completely independent of the physical body you inhabit, that maintains... awareness after the body's gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-snow/i-know-there-s-a-consciousness-energy-that-operates-completely/)

[Phoebe Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-snow/)

> [“We live in an energy-responsive world where intention radiates throughout. Fundamental to everything is attitude and perception”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohadesa-najumi/we-live-in-an-energy-responsive-world-where-intention-radiates/)

[Mohadesa Najumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohadesa-najumi/)

> [Let us ask... how things work at the level of on-going subjugation, at the level of those continuous and uninterrupted processes which subject our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/let-us-ask-how-things-work-at-the-level-of-on-going-subjugation-at/)

[Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/)

> [“Molecules form and dissolve, returning to the primordial soup of atoms. But consciousness survives the death of the molecules on which it rides. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/molecules-form-and-dissolve-returning-to-the-primordial-soup-of-atoms/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/)

[Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/)

## More by Miguel de Unamuno

> [The pessimism that protests and defends itself cannot be truly said to be pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-pessimism-that-protests-and-defends-itself-cannot-be-truly-said/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [We should try to be the parents of our future rather than the offspring of our past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-should-try-to-be-the-parents-of-our-future-rather-than-the/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [We never know, believe me, when we have succeeded best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-never-know-believe-me-when-we-have-succeeded-best/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/a-lot-of-good-arguments-are-spoiled-by-some-fool-who-knows-what-he-is/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Philosophy fulfills the need to create for ourselves a single and complete concept of the world and of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/philosophy-fulfills-the-need-to-create-for-ourselves-a-single-and/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [None are so likely to believe too little as those who have begun by believing too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/none-are-so-likely-to-believe-too-little-as-those-who-have-begun-by/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [The devil is an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-devil-is-an-angel-too/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [My work...is to shatter the faith of men here, there, and everywhere, faith in affirmation, faith in negation, and faith in abstention from faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/my-work-is-to-shatter-the-faith-of-men-here-there-and-everywhere/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [“I must not throw away my village to win my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/i-must-not-throw-away-my-village-to-win-my-soul/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Everything that exalts and expands consciousness is good, while that which depresses and diminishes it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/everything-that-exalts-and-expands-consciousness-is-good-while-that/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Was man made for science, or was science made for man?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/was-man-made-for-science-or-was-science-made-for-man/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [We need God, not in order to understand the why, but in order to feel and sustain the ultimate wherefore, to give a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/we-need-god-not-in-order-to-understand-the-why-but-in-order-to-feel/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [Science says: 'We must live,' and seeks the means of prolonging, increasing, facilitating and amplifying life, of making it tolerable and acceptable, wisdom says:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-says-we-must-live-and-seeks-the-means-of-prolonging/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [To love with the spirit is to pity, and he who pities most loves most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-love-with-the-spirit-is-to-pity-and-he-who-pities-most-loves-most/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

> [These terrible sociologists, who are the astrologers and alchemists of our twentieth century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/these-terrible-sociologists-who-are-the-astrologers-and-alchemists-of/)

[Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

[Explore all 153 Miguel de Unamuno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/)

## More Energy quotes

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/)

[Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/)

> [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/)

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/)

[Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/)

> [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/)

[Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/)

> [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/)

[Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/)

> [Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/enthusiasm-is-the-yeast-that-makes-your-hopes-shine-to-the-stars/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [I've never even been into those supplements or any of that. I don't even drink energy shakes. I'm not into that kind of stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-ve-never-even-been-into-those-supplements-or-any-of-that-i-don-t/)

[Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/)

> [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/)

[Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/)

> [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> ['The Choirboys' is very much a product of its mid-1970s time, especially in its two-dimensional portrayals of cop groupies Ora Lee and Carolina Moon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/the-choirboys-is-very-much-a-product-of-its-mid-1970s-time-especially/)

[Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/)

[Browse all 12,866 Energy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“To say that everything is idea or that everything is spirit, is the same as saying that everything is matter or that everything is energy, for if everything is idea or spirit, just as my consciousness is, it is not plain why the diamond should not endure for ever, if my consciousness, because it is idea or spirit, endures forever.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Miguel de Unamuno"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-everything-is-spirit-is-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Energy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-everything-is-spirit-is-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaa/miguel-de-unamuno-2211_energy_to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-e_518054.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To say that everything is idea or that everything is spirit, is the same as saying that everything is matter…” — Miguel de Unamuno",
                "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": "Miguel de Unamuno",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“To say that everything is idea...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-everything-is-spirit-is-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/to-say-that-everything-is-idea-or-that-everything-is-spirit-is-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
