--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difference between the actual and the…" description: "\"The difference between the actual and the ideal force of man is happily figured in by the schoolmen, in saying, that the knowledgeof man is an evening ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg" --- # The difference between the actual and the ideal force of… ![“The difference between the actual and the ideal force of man is happily figured in by the schoolmen, in saying, that the knowledgeof man is an evening knowledge, vespertina cognitio, but that of God is a morning knowledge, matutina cognitio.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg) > “The difference between the actual and the ideal force of man is happily figured in by the schoolmen, in saying, that the knowledgeof man is an evening knowledge, vespertina cognitio, but that of God is a morning knowledge, matutina cognitio.” [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. He contrasts human knowledge as limited and evening‑like with divine knowledge as bright and morning‑like, emphasizing humility. **In simple terms:** Human knowledge is limited; divine knowledge is greater. Key Takeaway Seek deeper, higher understanding. Themes humility knowledge spirituality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - religious study - personal growth Key Concepts epistemology theology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does “morning knowledge” mean to you? - How can we balance earthly learning with spiritual insight? A Different Perspective May imply a strict hierarchy of knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [Evening Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening-knowledge-5531440/) [Figured Schoolmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figured-schoolmen-5531437/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ideal Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-force-5531438/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Matutina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-matutina-5531441/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Saying Knowledgeof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-knowledgeof-5531439/) ## Related quotes > [O, when I am safe in my sylvan home, I mock at the pride of Greece and Rome; And when I am stretch'd beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/o-when-i-am-safe-in-my-sylvan-home-i-mock-at-the-pride-of-greece-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In the morning a man walks with his whole body; in the evening, only with his legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-the-morning-a-man-walks-with-his-whole-body-in-the-evening-only/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I do a lot of writing in my capacity as the creative director for a marketing agency. 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Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Browse all 8,110 Differences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The difference between the actual and the ideal force of man is happily figured in by the schoolmen, in saying, that the knowledgeof man is an evening knowledge, vespertina cognitio, but that of God is a morning knowledge, matutina cognitio.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-difference-between-the-actual-and-the-ideal-force-of-man-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Differences" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-difference-between-the-actual-and-the-ideal-force-of-man-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab2/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_differences_the-difference-between-the-actual-and-th_3129872.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The difference between the actual and the ideal force of man is happily figured in by the schoolmen, in…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The difference between the actual and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-difference-between-the-actual-and-the-ideal-force-of-man-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-difference-between-the-actual-and-the-ideal-force-of-man-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 } } ] } ```