--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge of divine things for the most…" description: "\"Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg" --- # Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as… ![“Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg) > “Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human skepticism often blocks understanding of divine truths, as noted by Heraclitus. **In simple terms:** Incredulity hides divine knowledge. Key Takeaway Question your doubts about higher truths. Themes faith philosophy skepticism Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - theological study - philosophical debate - personal contemplation Key Concepts divine knowledge human perception Questions to Reflect On - How does doubt affect your spiritual view? - Can skepticism coexist with belief? A Different Perspective Blind faith can ignore rational inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Heraclitus Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heraclitus-says-2130459/) [Incredulity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredulity/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-divine-1013070/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost Incredulity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-incredulity-3544104/) [Things Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-heraclitus-5909135/) ## Related quotes > [Knowledge of divine things for the most part is lost to us by incredulity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most-part-is-lost-to-us-by/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Heraclitus somewhere says that all things are in process and nothing stays still, and likening existing things to the stream of a river he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/heraclitus-somewhere-says-that-all-things-are-in-process-and-nothing/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Heraclitus says that Pittacus, when he had got Alcæus into his power, released him, saying, "Forgiveness is better than revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/heraclitus-says-that-pittacus-when-he-had-got-alc-us-into-his-power/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [“All things are a-flowing,' sage Heraclitus says, but a tawdry cheapness shall outlast all days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/all-things-are-a-flowing-sage-heraclitus-says-but-a-tawdry-cheapness/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“There must be knowledge of God before there can be love to God: there must be a knowledge of divine things, as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-must-be-knowledge-of-god-before-there-can-be-love-to-god-there/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“By reading, we just get informed. Knowledge is much more divine.. a lot more sacred. Knowledge is a blessing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gurnam-singh-sodhi/by-reading-we-just-get-informed-knowledge-is-much-more-divine-a-lot/) [Gurnam Singh Sodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gurnam-singh-sodhi/) > [Knowledge about God is of two kinds, direct and indirect. Indirectly we can read scriptures, listen to sermons, consult authorities, and from these sources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/knowledge-about-god-is-of-two-kinds-direct-and-indirect-indirectly-we/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“If Richard had lived, perhaps... but one cannot look backwards, only forwards. What has passed has passed for ever. What is it Heraclitus says?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/if-richard-had-lived-perhaps-but-one-cannot-look-backwards-only/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [Heraclitus says you cannot step into the same river twice. We can also say that the same river cannot touch us twice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/heraclitus-says-you-cannot-step-into-the-same-river-twice-we-can-also/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“One who has an intense longing for God, attains self-knowledge in the Divine Consciousness (God).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/one-who-has-an-intense-longing-for-god-attains-self-knowledge-in-the/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [“The theologian Meric Casaubon argued—in his 1668 book, Of Credulity and Incredulity—that witches must exist because, after all, everyone believes in them. Anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-theologian-meric-casaubon-argued-in-his-1668-book-of-credulity/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The first step towards philosophy is incredulity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/the-first-step-towards-philosophy-is-incredulity/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“If you can't show it, you don't know it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-ra/if-you-can-t-show-it-you-don-t-know-it/) [Aron Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-ra/) > [The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-reformer-has-enemies-in-all-who-profit-by-the-old-order-and-only/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Looking back through the mists of time, I recall some distinctly religious experiences in my teens--when I was only fourteen years old to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/looking-back-through-the-mists-of-time-i-recall-some-distinctly/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Divine quotes > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I take the seashell from my jeans pocket and rub my fingers across its silken, indented surface, shallow as my own open hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/i-take-the-seashell-from-my-jeans-pocket-and-rub-my-fingers-across/) [Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“Monsters are divine portents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/monsters-are-divine-portents/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Silence tells the seeker in us to love, to love himself. It tells us it is wrong to hate ourselves because of our imperfections.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/silence-tells-the-seeker-in-us-to-love-to-love-himself-it-tells-us-it/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Friend, you are a divine mingle-mangle of guts and stardust. So hang in there! If doors opened for me, they can open for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/friend-you-are-a-divine-mingle-mangle-of-guts-and-stardust-so-hang-in/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Browse all 4,543 Divine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most-part-as-heraclitus-says-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Divine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most-part-as-heraclitus-says-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/plutarch-597_divine_knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most_3195009.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Knowledge of divine things for the most part, as Heraclitus says, is lost to us by incredulity.” — Plutarch", "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": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Knowledge of divine things for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most-part-as-heraclitus-says-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/knowledge-of-divine-things-for-the-most-part-as-heraclitus-says-is/#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 } } ] } ```