--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Flint has the potential to produce fire…" description: "\"Flint has the potential to produce fire, and gems have intrinsic value. We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/nichiren-24550_distance_flint-has-the-potential-to-produce-fire_850842.png" --- # Flint has the potential to produce fire, and gems have… ![“Flint has the potential to produce fire, and gems have intrinsic value. We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our own hearts.” quote by Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/nichiren-24550_distance_flint-has-the-potential-to-produce-fire_850842.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/nichiren-24550_distance_flint-has-the-potential-to-produce-fire_850842.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/nichiren-24550_distance_flint-has-the-potential-to-produce-fire_850842.png) > “Flint has the potential to produce fire, and gems have intrinsic value. We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance. Likewise, we do not see that the Buddha exists in our own hearts.” [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human perception is limited; we miss both the minute and the vast, including inner enlightenment. **In simple terms:** We often overlook what’s close and far, especially inner wisdom. Key Takeaway Cultivate awareness of both details and the bigger picture. Themes perception mindfulness spirituality Mood contemplative inspired Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal meditation - daily reflection - mind‑body practices Key Concepts Buddhism self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - What close details do you ignore? - How can you notice inner wisdom? A Different Perspective Seeing only parts can lead to misunderstanding the whole. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Gems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gems/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Intrinsic value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrinsic-value/) [Ordinary people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/we-ordinary-people-can-see-neither-our-own-eyelashes-which-are-so/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Every sin already carries grace within in, all small children are potential old men, all sucklings have death within them, all dying people -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/every-sin-already-carries-grace-within-in-all-small-children-are/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The institutions that claim to represent God, when they are not ignored altogether, are treated like other human institutions that have to earn their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/the-institutions-that-claim-to-represent-god-when-they-are-not/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“He knew then that difference is never accepted. You are different, okay, but that difference is never seen as containing its own value. Difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/he-knew-then-that-difference-is-never-accepted-you-are-different-okay/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [If you buy something because it's undervalued, then you have to think about selling it when it approaches your calculation of its intrinsic value.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-buy-something-because-it-s-undervalued-then-you-have-to-think/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Market prices for stocks fluctuate at great amplitudes around intrinsic value but, over the long term, intrinsic value is virtually always reflected at some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/market-prices-for-stocks-fluctuate-at-great-amplitudes-around/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“You cannot trade the courage needed to live every moment for immunity from life's sorrows. We may say we know this but ours is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriah-mountain-dreamer/you-cannot-trade-the-courage-needed-to-live-every-moment-for-immunity/) [Oriah Mountain Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriah-mountain-dreamer/) > [Gradually, ... the aspect of science as knowledge is being thrust into the background by the aspect of science as the power of manipulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/gradually-the-aspect-of-science-as-knowledge-is-being-thrust-into-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Intrinsic value follows meaning follows form follows economics follows function follows more economics follows market research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-adigard/intrinsic-value-follows-meaning-follows-form-follows-economics/) Erik Adigard > [“The purpose of history, as I see it, is to uncover the forces which move the pawns on the chess board of the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-a-carto/the-purpose-of-history-as-i-see-it-is-to-uncover-the-forces-which/) Willis A. Carto > [I never desire to know anything of the detail of political measures, lest even those which I think best should lose anything of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-kemble/i-never-desire-to-know-anything-of-the-detail-of-political-measures/) [Fanny Kemble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-kemble/) > [Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/virtue-and-learning-like-gold-have-their-intrinsic-value-but-if-they/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [It were good to know how much hay an acre of every sort will bear; how many cattle the same weight of each sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-petty/it-were-good-to-know-how-much-hay-an-acre-of-every-sort-will-bear-how/) [William Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-petty/) > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) ## More by Nichiren > [If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/if-you-light-a-lantern-for-another-it-will-also-brighten-your-own-way/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Suffer what there is to suffer. Enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/suffer-what-there-is-to-suffer-enjoy-what-there-is-to-enjoy-regard/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Life in this world is limited. Never be in the least bit afraid!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/life-in-this-world-is-limited-never-be-in-the-least-bit-afraid/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Life is the most precious of all treasures. Even one extra day of life is worth more than ten million ryo of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/life-is-the-most-precious-of-all-treasures-even-one-extra-day-of-life/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [If you care anything about your personal security, you should first of all pray for order and tranquility throughout the four quarters of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/if-you-care-anything-about-your-personal-security-you-should-first-of/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Summoning up the courage to take action is always the same regardless of how seemingly big or small the challenge. What may look like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/summoning-up-the-courage-to-take-action-is-always-the-same-regardless/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [We ordinary people can see neither our own eyelashes, which are so close, nor the heavens in the distance...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/we-ordinary-people-can-see-neither-our-own-eyelashes-which-are-so/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Whether one has wealth or not, no treasure exceeds the one called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/whether-one-has-wealth-or-not-no-treasure-exceeds-the-one-called-life/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Faith Alone is what really matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/faith-alone-is-what-really-matters/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Winter always turns into Spring. Never, from ancient times on, has anyone heard or seen of winter turning back to autumn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/winter-always-turns-into-spring-never-from-ancient-times-on-has/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [When a tree has been transplanted, though fierce winds may blow, it will not topple if it has a firm stake to hold it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/when-a-tree-has-been-transplanted-though-fierce-winds-may-blow-it/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. 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Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play-with-george-c-scott-i-m-like/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Memories seem to surface in no particular order, with no time attached. Yesterday can seem as distant as last year. My life now consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/memories-seem-to-surface-in-no-particular-order-with-no-time-attached/) [Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) Frank H. T. 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