--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a mischievous notion that we are…" description: "\"It is a mischievous notion that we are come late into nature; that the world was finished a long time ago. As the world was plastic and fluid in the ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_attributes_it-is-a-mischievous-notion-that-we-are-c_568273.jpg" --- # It is a mischievous notion that we are come late into… ![“It is a mischievous notion that we are come late into nature; that the world was finished a long time ago. As the world was plastic and fluid in the hands of God, so it is ever to so much of his attributes as we bring to it. To ignorance and sin, it is flint. They adapt to themselves to it as they…” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_attributes_it-is-a-mischievous-notion-that-we-are-c_568273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_attributes_it-is-a-mischievous-notion-that-we-are-c_568273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_attributes_it-is-a-mischievous-notion-that-we-are-c_568273.jpg) > “It is a mischievous notion that we are come late into nature; that the world was finished a long time ago. As the world was plastic and fluid in the hands of God, so it is ever to so much of his attributes as we bring to it. To ignorance and sin, it is flint. They adapt to themselves to it as they may; but in proportion as a man has anything in him divine, the firmament flows before him and takes his signet and form.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human divine potential shapes reality; ignorance limits us. **In simple terms:** Divine nature shapes world. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner divinity. Themes divinity nature potential Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - spiritual practice - leadership development Key Concepts spirituality philosophy humanism Questions to Reflect On - How do you express your inner divinity? - What limits does ignorance impose? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self may ignore external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Firmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firmament/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Hands of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-of-god/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“You do not say someone is holy because he puts forth great ideas concerning the knowledge of God and the attributes of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/you-do-not-say-someone-is-holy-because-he-puts-forth-great-ideas/) [Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/) > [“How could the Creator depend on anyone, or anything? How could God have the attributes of a human? How could a human have attributes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umm-zakiyyah/how-could-the-creator-depend-on-anyone-or-anything-how-could-god-have/) Umm Zakiyyah > [All attributes ascribed to God are attributes of His acts, and do not imply that God has any qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/all-attributes-ascribed-to-god-are-attributes-of-his-acts-and-do-not/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“There is a God to love and there is a God to fear, and He is one and the same! Did He not judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/there-is-a-god-to-love-and-there-is-a-god-to-fear-and-he-is-one-and/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [While love is one of God's attributes, it's not his only attribute. God is also holy and just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/while-love-is-one-of-god-s-attributes-it-s-not-his-only-attribute-god/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [God and all attributes of God are eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/god-and-all-attributes-of-god-are-eternal/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [I can begin to give God attributes. He's a counselor. He's a healer. He's a friend that sits closer than a brother. To me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-can-begin-to-give-god-attributes-he-s-a-counselor-he-s-a-healer-he/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the luster of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-should-learn-to-detect-and-watch-that-gleam-of-light-which-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-should-learn-to-detect-and-watch-that-gleam-of-light-which/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Personal beauty is then first charming and itself, when it dissatisfies us with any end; when it becomes a story without an end; when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/personal-beauty-is-then-first-charming-and-itself-when-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In my utter impotence to test the authenticity of the report of my senses, to know whether the impressions they make on me correspond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-my-utter-impotence-to-test-the-authenticity-of-the-report-of-my/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sometimes I don't want to stand around a room full of strangers, chitchatting about nothing, so I'll come late to a party - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-hines/sometimes-i-don-t-want-to-stand-around-a-room-full-of-strangers/) [Cheryl Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-hines/) > [“Had she come too late?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tui-t-sutherland/had-she-come-too-late/) [Tui T. Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tui-t-sutherland/) > [When the critics come around it's always too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-nolan/when-the-critics-come-around-it-s-always-too-late/) [Sidney Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-nolan/) > [Regrets are illuminations come too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/regrets-are-illuminations-come-too-late/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Attributes quotes > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [I have often noticed that the two nuclear powers on the Indian subcontinent, India and Pakistan, attribute to Kashmiris an inferior intellect, a lineage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyla-ali-khan/i-have-often-noticed-that-the-two-nuclear-powers-on-the-indian/) [Nyla Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyla-ali-khan/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/developing-christlike-attributes-in-our-lives-is-not-an-easy-task/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [If I have any attribute that serves me well, it's I don't have a long-range plan in life. I have no idea. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/if-i-have-any-attribute-that-serves-me-well-it-s-i-don-t-have-a-long/) [Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/) Browse all 852 Attributes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a mischievous notion that we are come late into nature; that the world was finished a long time ago. As the world was plastic and fluid in the hands of God, so it is ever to so much of his attributes as we bring to it. To ignorance and sin, it is flint. 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