--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man would have been too happy, if…" description: "\"“Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the visible objects which interested him, he had employed, to perfect his real sciences, his la..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg" --- # Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the… ![“Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the visible objects which interested him, he had employed, to perfect his real sciences, his laws, his morals, his education, one-half the efforts he has put into his researches on the Divinity.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg) > ““Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the visible objects which interested him, he had employed, to perfect his real sciences, his laws, his morals, his education, one-half the efforts he has put into his researches on the Divinity.”” [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shelley argues that focusing solely on observable phenomena limits scientific and moral progress; deeper inquiry is needed. **In simple terms:** Limiting study to visible things hinders true knowledge. Key Takeaway Broaden inquiry beyond the obvious. Themes science philosophy knowledge curiosity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - personal growth - spiritual exploration Key Concepts epistemology metaphysics ethics Questions to Reflect On - What unseen aspects deserve more study? - How balance visible and hidden knowledge? A Different Perspective The view may neglect practical benefits of empirical focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [“It is pity in which the state of nature takes the place of laws, morals and virtues, with the added advantage that no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/it-is-pity-in-which-the-state-of-nature-takes-the-place-of-laws/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [What can laws do without morals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/what-can-laws-do-without-morals/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The laws of morals and the laws of music are the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoltan-kodaly/the-laws-of-morals-and-the-laws-of-music-are-the-same/) [Zoltan Kodaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoltan-kodaly/) > [Laws without morals are in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/laws-without-morals-are-in-vain/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“And so this became his pattern: he knew the law. He had a feeling for it. But then, just when I wanted him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanya-yanagihara/and-so-this-became-his-pattern-he-knew-the-law-he-had-a-feeling-for/) [Hanya Yanagihara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanya-yanagihara/) > [Of no mortal say, 'That man is happy,' till vexed by no grievous ill he pass Life's goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/of-no-mortal-say-that-man-is-happy-till-vexed-by-no-grievous-ill-he/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“The happy man, therefore, is he who can make a right judgment in all things: he is happy who in his present circumstances, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/the-happy-man-therefore-is-he-who-can-make-a-right-judgment-in-all/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval. 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A happy is someone who finds an oasis with drinking water in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/is-there-any-difference-between-a-happy-and-a-lucky-man-a-happy-is/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) ## More by Percy Bysshe Shelley > [The everlasting universe of things Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark--now glittering--now reflecting gloom-- Now lending splendour, where from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-everlasting-universe-of-things-flows-through-the-mind-and-rolls/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The quick Dreams, The passion-winged Ministers of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-quick-dreams-the-passion-winged-ministers-of-thought/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/hail-to-thee-blithe-spirit/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The jealous keys of truth's eternal doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-jealous-keys-of-truth-s-eternal-doors/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Though we eat little flesh and drink no wine, Yet let's be merry; we'll have tea and toast; Custards for supper, and an endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/though-we-eat-little-flesh-and-drink-no-wine-yet-let-s-be-merry-we-ll/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [A dream has power to poison sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/a-dream-has-power-to-poison-sleep/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Titles are tinsel, power a corrupter, glorya bubble, and excessive wealth a libel on its possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/titles-are-tinsel-power-a-corrupter-glorya-bubble-and-excessive/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-fall-upon-the-thorns-of-life-i-bleed/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Poets and philosophers are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/poets-and-philosophers-are-the-unacknowledged-legislators-of-the-world/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Dar'st thou amid the varied multitude To live alone, an isolated thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/dar-st-thou-amid-the-varied-multitude-to-live-alone-an-isolated-thing/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Of human thought or form, where art thou gone?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/spirit-of-beauty-that-dost-consecrate-with-thine-own-hues-all-thou/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I love tranquil solitude, And such society As is quiet, wise, and good; Between thee and me What difference? but thou dost possess The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-love-tranquil-solitude-and-such-society-as-is-quiet-wise-and-good/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The practice of utter sincerity towards other men would avail to no good end, if they were incapable of practising it towards their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-practice-of-utter-sincerity-towards-other-men-would-avail-to-no/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Thou shoreless flood, which in thy ebb and flow claspest the limits of mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/thou-shoreless-flood-which-in-thy-ebb-and-flow-claspest-the-limits-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Senseless is the breast and cold Which relenting love would fold; Bloodless are the veins and chill Which the pulse of pain did fill;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/senseless-is-the-breast-and-cold-which-relenting-love-would-fold/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) [Explore all 533 Percy Bysshe Shelley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## More Divinity quotes > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/) [Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/) > [It is through the body that everything comes to the mind. 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Within these the concepts vary greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-many-concepts-of-spirituality-among-them-various-notions-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Browse all 892 Divinity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the visible objects which interested him, he had employed, to perfect his real sciences, his laws, his morals, his education, one-half the efforts he has put into his researches on the Divinity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Percy Bysshe Shelley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limiting-himself-to-the-visible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Divinity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limiting-himself-to-the-visible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_science_man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limitin_1337493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the visible objects which interested him, he had…” — Percy Bysshe Shelley", "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": "Percy Bysshe Shelley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Man would have been too happy,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limiting-himself-to-the-visible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-would-have-been-too-happy-if-limiting-himself-to-the-visible/#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 } } ] } ```