--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An external thing that is knowable [is…" description: "\"An external thing that is knowable [is knowable] by means of something internal that is consubstantial [with the rational soul].\" — Nicholas of Cusa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png" --- # An external thing that is knowable \[is knowable\] by means… ![“An external thing that is knowable [is knowable] by means of something internal that is consubstantial [with the rational soul].” quote by Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png) > “An external thing that is knowable \[is knowable\] by means of something internal that is consubstantial \[with the rational soul\].” [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge of external reality is possible through the rational soul that shares its substance. **In simple terms:** The mind can grasp the world because it reflects it. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner reflection to understand outer truths. Themes philosophy epistemology metaphysics Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theoretical reflective When to use this quote - theology study - scientific inquiry - personal introspection Key Concepts rational soul substance knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How does inner rationality shape perception? - Can external facts be known without inner reflection? A Different Perspective May overlook empirical evidence in favor of internal reasoning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consubstantial Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consubstantial-rational-2886758/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Knowable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowable-1188683/) [Knowable Knowable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowable-knowable-2886757/) [Knowable Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowable-means-2886756/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Thing Knowable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-knowable-2886755/) ## Related quotes > [The knowledge of everything knowable is not yet wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenzweig/the-knowledge-of-everything-knowable-is-not-yet-wisdom/) [Franz Rosenzweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenzweig/) > [“The universe is knowable...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-universe-is-knowable/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“The universe is knowable and what one need not apeal to mystical, magical forces to account for things”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-universe-is-knowable-and-what-one-need-not-apeal-to-mystical/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [This is the nature of genius, to be able to grasp the knowable even when no one else recognizes that it is present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/this-is-the-nature-of-genius-to-be-able-to-grasp-the-knowable-even/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [There is a part of her greater than the sum of her knowable parts. And that part has to go somewhere, because it cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-is-a-part-of-her-greater-than-the-sum-of-her-knowable-parts-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [We can seek God and find him! God is knowable, touchable, hearable, seeable, with the mind, the hands, the ears and the eyes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/we-can-seek-god-and-find-him-god-is-knowable-touchable-hearable/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“She always saw through him, as if he were just another window. She always felt that she knew everything about him that could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/she-always-saw-through-him-as-if-he-were-just-another-window-she/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [This actual world of what is knowable, in which we are and which is in us, remains both the material and the limit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/this-actual-world-of-what-is-knowable-in-which-we-are-and-which-is-in/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Is Knowledge knowable? If not, how do we know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-knowledge-knowable-if-not-how-do-we-know/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think that reality exists and that it's knowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-wales/i-think-that-reality-exists-and-that-it-s-knowable/) [Jimmy Wales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-wales/) > [The one thing we do not know is the limit of the knowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-one-thing-we-do-not-know-is-the-limit-of-the-knowable/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Through itself the soul arrives at all harmony that is perceptible in otherness-just as through what is internal the soul arrives at what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/through-itself-the-soul-arrives-at-all-harmony-that-is-perceptible-in/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by Nicholas of Cusa > [God says to man: 'Be thou thyself, and I shall be thine.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/god-says-to-man-be-thou-thyself-and-i-shall-be-thine/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [All visible things would not claim as their king some color of their region, which is actually among the visible things of this region,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/all-visible-things-would-not-claim-as-their-king-some-color-of-their/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [There are not many beginnings but there is a single Beginning, prior to multitude. But if you were to say that the beginnings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/there-are-not-many-beginnings-but-there-is-a-single-beginning-prior/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Within itself the soul sees all things more truly than as they exist in different things outside itself. And the more it goes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/within-itself-the-soul-sees-all-things-more-truly-than-as-they-exist/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Divinity is in all things in such a way that all things are in divinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/divinity-is-in-all-things-in-such-a-way-that-all-things-are-in/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [In humility alone lies true greatness, and knowledge and wisdom are profitable only in so far as our lives are governed by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/in-humility-alone-lies-true-greatness-and-knowledge-and-wisdom-are/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [All we know of the truth is that the absolute truth, such as it is, is beyond our reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/all-we-know-of-the-truth-is-that-the-absolute-truth-such-as-it-is-is/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [You are therefore able to run on this path, on which God is found above all vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, speech, sense, rationality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/you-are-therefore-able-to-run-on-this-path-on-which-god-is-found/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Thou art merciful; when all my endeavour is turned toward Thee because all Thy endeavour is turned toward me; when I look unto Thee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/thou-art-merciful-when-all-my-endeavour-is-turned-toward-thee-because/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [Through itself the soul arrives at all harmony that is perceptible in otherness-just as through what is internal the soul arrives at what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/through-itself-the-soul-arrives-at-all-harmony-that-is-perceptible-in/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [We see that God has implanted in all things a natural desire to exist with the fullest measure of existence that is compatible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/we-see-that-god-has-implanted-in-all-things-a-natural-desire-to-exist/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [The rational is apprehended through the intellect, however, the intellect is not found in the region of the rational; the intellect is as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/the-rational-is-apprehended-through-the-intellect-however-the/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [All things are in the intended endpoint, and this mode of being is called will or desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/all-things-are-in-the-intended-endpoint-and-this-mode-of-being-is/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [ Every angle acknowledges that it is a likeness of true angularity, for \[each angle\] is angle not insofar as angle exists in itself but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/every-angle-acknowledges-that-it-is-a-likeness-of-true-angularity-for/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [For reason's measurements, which attain unto temporal things, do not attain unto things that are free from time-just as hearing does not attain unto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/for-reason-s-measurements-which-attain-unto-temporal-things-do-not/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) [Explore all 47 Nicholas of Cusa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) ## More Internals quotes > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Funny how internal scars never healed. They were the souvenirs of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/funny-how-internal-scars-never-healed-they-were-the-souvenirs-of-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The internal peace of every country depends upon the knowledge that force is available to uphold law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/the-internal-peace-of-every-country-depends-upon-the-knowledge-that/) [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [And I could see his internal struggle become an all out war. "It wouldn't have made a difference. Not with Adrian involved," he said……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/and-i-could-see-his-internal-struggle-become-an-all-out-war-it-wouldn/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [About 120 million of us place the big bang 2,500 years after the Babylonians and Sumerians learned to brew beer. If our polls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/about-120-million-of-us-place-the-big-bang-2-500-years-after-the/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [What we still designate as chance, merely depends on a concatenation of circumstances, the internal connection and final causes of which we have as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-buchner/what-we-still-designate-as-chance-merely-depends-on-a-concatenation/) [Ludwig Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-buchner/) > [Peace is more of an internal settlement rather than what is visible on the external.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/peace-is-more-of-an-internal-settlement-rather-than-what-is-visible/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I have no policy, for or against: only a personal style. Which is to say, I use them when I think it's appropriate to;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-have-no-policy-for-or-against-only-a-personal-style-which-is-to-say/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Managing our emotions increases intuition and clarity. It helps us self-regulate our brain chemicals and internal hormones. It gives us natural highs, the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-childre/managing-our-emotions-increases-intuition-and-clarity-it-helps-us/) [Doc Childre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-childre/) > [Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. They are primarily for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/gentlemen-comrades-do-not-be-concerned-about-all-you-hear-about/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [Language would have evolved first as an internal object, a kind of "language of thought" (LOT), with externalisation (hence communication) an ancillary process. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/language-would-have-evolved-first-as-an-internal-object-a-kind-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Browse all 1,064 Internals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An external thing that is knowable [is knowable] by means of something internal that is consubstantial [with the rational soul].", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas of Cusa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-knowable-by-means-of-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Internals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-knowable-by-means-of-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/nicholas-of-cusa-14312_internals_an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-kn_1912223.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An external thing that is knowable [is knowable] by means of something internal that is consubstantial [with…” — Nicholas of Cusa", "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": "Nicholas of Cusa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An external thing that is knowable...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-knowable-by-means-of-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/an-external-thing-that-is-knowable-is-knowable-by-means-of-something/#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 } } ] } ```