--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has actually to be said about the…" description: "\"What has actually to be said about the Cause of everything is this. Since it is the Cause of all beings, we should posit and ascribe to it all the affi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/pope-dionysius-28663_affirmation_what-has-actually-to-be-said-about-the-c_2388296.jpg" --- # What has actually to be said about the Cause of everything… ![“What has actually to be said about the Cause of everything is this. Since it is the Cause of all beings, we should posit and ascribe to it all the affirmations we make in regard to beings, and, more appropriately, we should negate all these affirmations, since It surpasses all being. Now we should…” quote by Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/pope-dionysius-28663_affirmation_what-has-actually-to-be-said-about-the-c_2388296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/pope-dionysius-28663_affirmation_what-has-actually-to-be-said-about-the-c_2388296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/pope-dionysius-28663_affirmation_what-has-actually-to-be-said-about-the-c_2388296.jpg) > “What has actually to be said about the Cause of everything is this. Since it is the Cause of all beings, we should posit and ascribe to it all the affirmations we make in regard to beings, and, more appropriately, we should negate all these affirmations, since It surpasses all being. Now we should not conclude that the negations are simply the opposites of the affirmations, but rather that the cause of all is considerably prior to this, beyond privations, beyond every denial, beyond every assertion.” [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ultimate cause transcends all being and negates all affirmations, existing beyond any description. **In simple terms:** The supreme cause is beyond all concepts. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of language when describing ultimate reality. Themes metaphysics theology philosophy Mood awe pondering Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - spiritual contemplation - philosophical study - meditative prayer - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts existence causality negation Questions to Reflect On - How do you approach understanding that which is beyond description? - Can negating affirmations lead to deeper insight? A Different Perspective Human language may never fully capture the ineffable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affirmation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation/) [Affirmations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmations/) [Affirmations Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmations-cause-5939888/) [Assertion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assertion/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Negate Affirmations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negate-affirmations-5939889/) [Negation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negation/) [Negations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negations-1903801/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Opposites Affirmations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites-affirmations-5939890/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Orthodox christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [“it can only be repeated that all reasonings and negations work solely on the level of seeming reality. At best, as nonimplicative negations, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/it-can-only-be-repeated-that-all-reasonings-and-negations-work-solely/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [Nihilism is but the other side of conventionalism; its creed consists of negations of the current so-called positive values, to which it remains bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/nihilism-is-but-the-other-side-of-conventionalism-its-creed-consists/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“As Hegel defines it: "Thinking is, indeed, essentially the negation of that which is before us." ... Reason is the negation of the negative.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/as-hegel-defines-it-thinking-is-indeed-essentially-the-negation-of/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [My work...is to shatter the faith of men here, there, and everywhere, faith in affirmation, faith in negation, and faith in abstention from faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/my-work-is-to-shatter-the-faith-of-men-here-there-and-everywhere/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [“In general, every negation must depend on the rejection of an affirmation or proposition, which means that emptiness as a nonimplicative negation is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/in-general-every-negation-must-depend-on-the-rejection-of-an/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [Government is essentially the negation of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/government-is-essentially-the-negation-of-liberty/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [We make a mistake forsaking England and moving out into the periphery of life. After all, Taormina, Ceylon, Africa, America -- as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/we-make-a-mistake-forsaking-england-and-moving-out-into-the-periphery/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“The war of 1914–18 was the absolute negation of everything that Clausewitz had stood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-munro-clark/the-war-of-1914-18-was-the-absolute-negation-of-everything-that/) [Christopher Munro Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-munro-clark/) > [It's impossible for a creative artist to be either a Puritan or a Fascist, because both are a negation of the creative urge. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-o-flaherty/it-s-impossible-for-a-creative-artist-to-be-either-a-puritan-or-a/) [Liam O'Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-o-flaherty/) > [Self-negation is noble, self-culture beneficent, self-possession is manly, but to the truly great and inspiring soul they are poor and tame compared with self-abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-julius-ii/self-negation-is-noble-self-culture-beneficent-self-possession-is/) [Pope Julius II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-julius-ii/) > [Art, unlike the trades in the artistic capacity of fashion and food, can literally be anything. It can be the negation of itself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-phillips/art-unlike-the-trades-in-the-artistic-capacity-of-fashion-and-food/) [Richard Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-phillips/) > [No worse fate can befall a young man or woman than becoming prematurely entrenched in prudence and negation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/no-worse-fate-can-befall-a-young-man-or-woman-than-becoming/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Even if you tried to extinguish your personality, what is left in the story will reflect it, perhaps by its negation. Our lives provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/even-if-you-tried-to-extinguish-your-personality-what-is-left-in-the/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [“It's part of our overall Body Negation Program.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/it-s-part-of-our-overall-body-negation-program/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) ## More by Pope Dionysius > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [...we must all offer up a hymn of praise to the God... who is 'Lord of lords' (Deut. 10:17, Ps. 136:1, I Tim. 6:15,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/we-must-all-offer-up-a-hymn-of-praise-to-the-god-who-is-lord-of-lords/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [...if we know God our knowledge of... everything will be brought to perfection, and, in so far as is possible, the infinite, divine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/if-we-know-god-our-knowledge-of-everything-will-be-brought-to/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > ['Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights' (Jms. 1:17). But there is something more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/every-good-endowment-and-every-perfect-gift-is-from-above-coming-down/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [ \[God\] is perfect not only insofar as He is absolute perfection, defining perfection in Himself and from His singular existence and total perfection, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-is-perfect-not-only-insofar-as-he-is-absolute-perfection-defining/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [God is a fountain flowing into itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-is-a-fountain-flowing-into-itself/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [Our Lord Jesus Christ made the merciful shepherding of His sheep the proof of love for Himself (cf. Jn. 21:15-17). He denounces as 'wicked'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/our-lord-jesus-christ-made-the-merciful-shepherding-of-his-sheep-the/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [ We make assertions and denials of what is next to \[the Divine Nature\], but never of It, for It is both beyond every assertion,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/we-make-assertions-and-denials-of-what-is-next-to-the-divine-nature/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [The name 'cherubim' means 'fullness of knowledge' or 'outpouring of wisdom'... The name cherubim signifies the power to know and to see God, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/the-name-cherubim-means-fullness-of-knowledge-or-outpouring-of-wisdom/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [The Word of God makes use of poetic imagery when discussing... formless intelligences but... it does not do so for the sake of art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/the-word-of-god-makes-use-of-poetic-imagery-when-discussing-formless/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [Trinity!! Higher than any being, any divinity, any goodness! Guide of Christians in the wisdom of heaven! Lead us up beyond unknowing and light,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/trinity-higher-than-any-being-any-divinity-any-goodness-guide-of/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [Those who do not know must be taught, not punished. We do not hit the blind. We lead them by the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/those-who-do-not-know-must-be-taught-not-punished-we-do-not-hit-the/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [All angels bring revelations and tidings of their superiors. The first bring word of God who is their inspiration, while the others, according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/all-angels-bring-revelations-and-tidings-of-their-superiors-the-first/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [The word of God has provided nine explanatory designations of the heavenly beings... the first group is forever around God and is said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/the-word-of-god-has-provided-nine-explanatory-designations-of-the/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) > [One can take eternity and time to be predicates of God since, being the Ancient of Days, He is the cause of all time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/one-can-take-eternity-and-time-to-be-predicates-of-god-since-being/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) [Explore all 19 Pope Dionysius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) ## More Affirmation quotes > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/) [Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Affirmations need to be used if they are to become incorporated into the fabric of your being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/affirmations-need-to-be-used-if-they-are-to-become-incorporated-into/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/that-the-sun-will-not-rise-tomorrow-is-no-less-intelligible-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“Affirmation without discipline is like enthusiasm without direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/affirmation-without-discipline-is-like-enthusiasm-without-direction/) [Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/) > [Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 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I give magical service for magical pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/i-have-a-magical-work-in-a-magical-way-i-give-magical-service-for/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [“On one side it seems there is faith in a Creator-God - and at the same time, the rejection of his creation; and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/on-one-side-it-seems-there-is-faith-in-a-creator-god-and-at-the-same/) [Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/) > [For you deal here above all with human life, and human life is sacred; no one may dare make an attempt upon it. Respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/for-you-deal-here-above-all-with-human-life-and-human-life-is-sacred/) [Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/) > [An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that something is already so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/an-affirmation-is-a-strong-positive-statement-that-something-is/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) [Browse all 540 Affirmation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What has actually to be said about the Cause of everything is this. Since it is the Cause of all beings, we should posit and ascribe to it all the affirmations we make in regard to beings, and, more appropriately, we should negate all these affirmations, since It surpasses all being. 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