--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Bible is like a telescope. If a man…" description: "\"The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/phillips-brooks-2696_bible_the-bible-is-like-a-telescope-if-a-man-l_3078616.png" --- # The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his… ![“The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it; and so they see only…” quote by Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/phillips-brooks-2696_bible_the-bible-is-like-a-telescope-if-a-man-l_3078616.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/phillips-brooks-2696_bible_the-bible-is-like-a-telescope-if-a-man-l_3078616.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/phillips-brooks-2696_bible_the-bible-is-like-a-telescope-if-a-man-l_3078616.png) > “The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it; and so they see only the dead letter.” [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Bible should be used as a tool to perceive deeper spiritual truths, not merely examined as a text. **In simple terms:** Use the Bible to see beyond its words. Key Takeaway Look through, not at, the Bible. Themes spirituality interpretation faith Mood reflective inspirational Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal study - sermon preparation - teaching - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply biblical teachings beyond literal text? - What deeper truths do you seek? A Different Perspective Readers may miss deeper meaning if they focus only on literal reading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Telescopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telescopes/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but, if he looks at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/the-bible-is-like-a-telescope-if-a-man-looks-through-his-telescope/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Just as the telescope and microscope show us that there is order and design in all the works of God's hand, from the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/just-as-the-telescope-and-microscope-show-us-that-there-is-order-and-2/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Just as the telescope and microscope show us that there is order and design in all the works of God’s hand, from the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/just-as-the-telescope-and-microscope-show-us-that-there-is-order-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [His eyes are like a telescope. I look into them and I'm transported across the universe to a world I've never been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/his-eyes-are-like-a-telescope-i-look-into-them-and-i-m-transported/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [Jazz is like a telescope, and a lot of other music is like a microscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/jazz-is-like-a-telescope-and-a-lot-of-other-music-is-like-a-microscope/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [The Bible is like a wide and beautiful landscape seen afar off, dim and confused; but a good telescope will bring it near, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/the-bible-is-like-a-wide-and-beautiful-landscape-seen-afar-off-dim/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [ \[ My mother\] went, OK, I've read the Bible. I've read the Bible again. I'm reading the Bible again. OK, let me - where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/my-mother-went-ok-i-ve-read-the-bible-i-ve-read-the-bible-again-i-m/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [Knowing the Bible is one thing¦knowing the author is another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/knowing-the-bible-is-one-thing-knowing-the-author-is-another/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [The man I lived with is a Christian, so I would talk to him about it. What would this person do in the Bible?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/the-man-i-lived-with-is-a-christian-so-i-would-talk-to-him-about-it/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) > [I fear we are in danger of forgetting that to HAVE the Bible is one thing, and to READ it quite another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/i-fear-we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-to-have-the-bible-is-one/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [I think there's some pretty amazing language in the Bible. The thing that's always been interesting to me about religion is that compared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/i-think-there-s-some-pretty-amazing-language-in-the-bible-the-thing/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [Funny thing, every time an angel appeared to someone in the Bible, the first thing he'd say was, "Fear not."... I guess they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-morris/funny-thing-every-time-an-angel-appeared-to-someone-in-the-bible-the/) [Gilbert Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-morris/) > [You tell that bitch give me my space like a telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/you-tell-that-bitch-give-me-my-space-like-a-telescope/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [I'd like a telescope, but I probably wouldn't look at the stars that often. I'd definitely be looking into people's flats most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-goldfrapp/i-d-like-a-telescope-but-i-probably-wouldn-t-look-at-the-stars-that/) [Alison Goldfrapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-goldfrapp/) > [Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only knew how to begin. -Alice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-in-wonderland/oh-how-i-wish-i-could-shut-up-like-a-telescope-i-think-i-could-if-i/) [Alice In Wonderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-in-wonderland/) ## More by Phillips Brooks > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/christmas-day-is-a-day-of-joy-and-charity-may-god-make-you-very-rich/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Preaching is truth through personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/preaching-is-truth-through-personality/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/nothing-lies-beyond-the-reach-of-prayer-except-that-which-lies/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Everywhere the flower of obedience is intelligence. Obey a man with cordial loyalty and you will understand him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/everywhere-the-flower-of-obedience-is-intelligence-obey-a-man-with/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [O, do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/o-do-not-pray-for-easy-lives-pray-to-be-stronger-men-do-not-pray-for/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [So shall we join the disciples of our Lord, keeping faith in Him in spite of the crucifixion, and making ready, by our loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/so-shall-we-join-the-disciples-of-our-lord-keeping-faith-in-him-in/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The trouble is that I'm in a hurry, but God isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-trouble-is-that-i-m-in-a-hurry-but-god-isn-t/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-truest-help-we-can-render-an-afflicted-man-is-not-to-take-his/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [“The danger facing all of us--let me say it again, for one feels it tremendously--is not that we shall make an absolute failure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-danger-facing-all-of-us-let-me-say-it-again-for-one-feels-it/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [There is a necessary limit to our achievement, but none to our attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/there-is-a-necessary-limit-to-our-achievement-but-none-to-our-attempt/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [Character - Some day, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/character-some-day-you-will-be-wrestling-with-the-great-temptation-or/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [The essential tendency of life is toward happiness . . . . Optimism is the only true condition for a reasonable man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-essential-tendency-of-life-is-toward-happiness-optimism-is-the/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [To find his place and fill it is success for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/to-find-his-place-and-fill-it-is-success-for-a-man/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [It is God's world still. It has been given to man not absolutely, but in trust, that man may work out in it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/it-is-god-s-world-still-it-has-been-given-to-man-not-absolutely-but/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) [Explore all 153 Phillips Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. 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