Ambition Quote by Paul Laurence Dunbar
“We reduce the deity to vulgar fractions. We place our own little ambitions and label them ?divine messages?. With our short sight we affect to take a comprehensive view of eternity.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Deity and the Fraction", 1915
Human beings reduce the divine to simplistic, measurable parts, imposing personal ambitions onto spiritual concepts, which limits a true, expansive view of eternity.
In simple terms: We simplify the sacred, losing its depth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of reductionist thinking.
Themes
spirituality
philosophy
human ambition
limitations
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- religious practice
- personal goal setting
- ethical decision making
- creative writing
Key Concepts
metaphysics
ego
symbolic reduction
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways do you simplify complex ideas?
- Can embracing mystery enhance your perspective?
A Different Perspective
The quote may generalize all religious experience as reductionist, ignoring mystic traditions.
