--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing can be rightly known, if God be…" description: "\"“Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is not studied. We know little of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg" --- # Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is… ![“Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is not studied. We know little of the creature, till we know it as it stands related to the Creator: single letters, and syllables uncomposed, are no better than nonsense. He who…” quote by Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg) > ““Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is not studied. We know little of the creature, till we know it as it stands related to the Creator: single letters, and syllables uncomposed, are no better than nonsense. He who overlooketh him who is the 'Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' and seeth not him in all who is the All of all, doth see nothing at all. All creatures, as such, are broken syllables; they signify nothing as separated from God. Were they separated actually, they would cease to be, and the separation would be annhiliation; and when we separate them in our fancies, we make nothing of them to ourselves. It is one thing to know the creatures as Aristotle, and another thing to know them as a Christian. None but a Christian can read one line of his Physics so as to understand it rightly. It is a high and excellent study, and of greater use than many apprehend; but it is the smallest part of it that Aristotle can teach us.”” [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding reality requires recognizing God as the ultimate source; without that, knowledge is fragmented and meaningless. **In simple terms:** Knowledge is incomplete without God. Key Takeaway Seek divine perspective in study. Themes theology epistemology faith human understanding Mood contemplative serious Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - personal spiritual reflection - academic theology - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Divine causality creature‑creator relationship limitations of secular knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging God change your view of knowledge? - Can truth be fully grasped without a higher reference point? A Different Perspective Secular approaches may claim insight without divine reference. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alpha and omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alpha-and-omega/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [“Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study-2/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“A man receives only what he is ready to receive, whether physically or intellectually or morally, as animals conceive at certain seasons their kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-receives-only-what-he-is-ready-to-receive-whether-physically-or-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-you-want-to-get-warm-you-must-stand-near-the-fire-if-you-want-to-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [To be a Christian is to realize that in your sin, you were separated from God's presence, and you deserved nothing but God's wrath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/to-be-a-christian-is-to-realize-that-in-your-sin-you-were-separated/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [When human affairs are so ordered that there is no recognition of God, there is a belittling of man. That is why, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/when-human-affairs-are-so-ordered-that-there-is-no-recognition-of-god/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [I think Jesus is saying, Look, you guys are running around like monkeys trying to get people to clap, but people are fallen, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-think-jesus-is-saying-look-you-guys-are-running-around-like-monkeys/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [The whole world has risen in Christ... If God is 'all in all,' then everything is in fact paradise, because it is filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-whole-world-has-risen-in-christ-if-god-is-all-in-all-then/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“the Lord declared, “He that believeth in Me is not condemned,” that is, is not separated from God, for he is united to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-lord-declared-he-that-believeth-in-me-is-not-condemned-that-is-is/) The Church Fathers > [“the highest condition of the Human Will, as distinct, not as separated from God, is when, not seeing God, not seeming to itself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-highest-condition-of-the-human-will-as-distinct-not-as-separated/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The chief thing that separates us from God is the thought that we are separated from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/the-chief-thing-that-separates-us-from-god-is-the-thought-that-we-are/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [Only at the cross of Christ does man see fully what it is that separates him from God; yet it is here alone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-brunner/only-at-the-cross-of-christ-does-man-see-fully-what-it-is-that/) [Emil Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-brunner/) > [For all their raving, ranting, and name-calling, these atheists will stand before God one day-and they will exist for eternity, though sadly they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/for-all-their-raving-ranting-and-name-calling-these-atheists-will/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [With the Fall all became abnormal. It is not just that the individual is separated from God by his true moral guilt, but each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/with-the-fall-all-became-abnormal-it-is-not-just-that-the-individual/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I believe our nation is in deep trouble. We seem to have lost our identity because in many ways we're separated from God. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/i-believe-our-nation-is-in-deep-trouble-we-seem-to-have-lost-our/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) ## More by Richard Baxter > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Most (Christians) have an ungrounded trust in Christ, hoping that He will pardon, justify and save them, while the world has their hearts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/most-christians-have-an-ungrounded-trust-in-christ-hoping-that-he/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [My Lord, I have nothing to do in this World, but to seek and serve thee; I have nothing to do with a Heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/my-lord-i-have-nothing-to-do-in-this-world-but-to-seek-and-serve-thee/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [We must feel toward our people as a father toward his children; yea, the most tender love of a mother must not surpass ours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/we-must-feel-toward-our-people-as-a-father-toward-his-children-yea/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [We are ignorant of things necessary, because we learn things superfluous and unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/we-are-ignorant-of-things-necessary-because-we-learn-things/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [In a divine commonwealth holiness must have the principal honor and encouragement, and a great difference be made between the precious and the vile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/in-a-divine-commonwealth-holiness-must-have-the-principal-honor-and/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [God takes men's hearty desires and will, instead of the deed, where they have not power to fulfill it; but he never took the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/god-takes-men-s-hearty-desires-and-will-instead-of-the-deed-where/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Surely love is both work and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/surely-love-is-both-work-and-wages/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Naturally, men are prone to spin themselves a web of opinions out of their own brain, and to have a religion that may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/naturally-men-are-prone-to-spin-themselves-a-web-of-opinions-out-of/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/god-never-saved-any-man-for-being-a-preacher-nor-because-he-was-an/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [A man pleaser cannot be true to God, because he is a servant to the enemies of his service; the wind of a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/a-man-pleaser-cannot-be-true-to-god-because-he-is-a-servant-to-the/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“He is not drowning His sheep when He washeth them, nor killing them when He is shearing them. But by this He showeth that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/he-is-not-drowning-his-sheep-when-he-washeth-them-nor-killing-them/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Get masters of families to do their duty, and they will not only spare you a great deal of labor, but will much further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/get-masters-of-families-to-do-their-duty-and-they-will-not-only-spare/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Christ leads me through no darker rooms than He went through before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/christ-leads-me-through-no-darker-rooms-than-he-went-through-before/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Such is the depth of the Christian Scriptures, that even if I were attempting to study them and nothing else from early boyhood to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/such-is-the-depth-of-the-christian-scriptures-that-even-if-i-were/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) [Explore all 143 Richard Baxter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) ## More Alpha and omega quotes > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Charles was most comfortable by himself or, if that wasn't possible, with his pack in the wild. Talking for hours in a crowded auditorium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/charles-was-most-comfortable-by-himself-or-if-that-wasn-t-possible/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet, ... The White T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-t-shirt-as-the-alpha-and-omega-of-the/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [Taking out werewolves, I gather and surmise, is akin to taking out a SEAL team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/taking-out-werewolves-i-gather-and-surmise-is-akin-to-taking-out-a/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Imagination is a valuable asset in business and she has a sister, Understanding, who also serves. Together they make a splendid team and business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-foote-macdougall/imagination-is-a-valuable-asset-in-business-and-she-has-a-sister/) [Alice Foote MacDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-foote-macdougall/) > [I don’t think you’re supposed to be able to get at that information,” said Leslie. “Don’t look,” said Goldstein, peering over Charles’s shoulder. “We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-don-t-think-you-re-supposed-to-be-able-to-get-at-that-information/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [We are not doomed to an ultimate conflict with no hope of resolution. The message of the Scripture is one of victory - full,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-not-doomed-to-an-ultimate-conflict-with-no-hope-of-resolution/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I just want to say one thing...Thank you Eddie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-gutierrez/i-just-want-to-say-one-thing-thank-you-eddie/) [Oscar Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-gutierrez/) > [Fortunately, he'd found that most people were easy to locate at five thirty in the morning. .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/fortunately-he-d-found-that-most-people-were-easy-to-locate-at-five/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [New rules. If you are smart enough to live, you won’t hit Charles’s mate in front of his father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/new-rules-if-you-are-smart-enough-to-live-you-won-t-hit-charles-s/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Last, I just want to thank God again. He's the first and the last. Alpha and Omega. I thank you for saving my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-i-just-want-to-thank-god-again-he-s-the-first-and-the-last-alpha/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [ “\[T\]hink of love as a state of grace: not the means to anything but the alpha and omega, an end in itself.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/t-hink-of-love-as-a-state-of-grace-not-the-means-to-anything-but-the/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/and-behold-i-come-quickly-and-my-reward-is-with-me-to-give-every-man-2/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [God is alpha and omega in the great world: endeavor to make him so in the little world; make him thy evening epilogue and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/god-is-alpha-and-omega-in-the-great-world-endeavor-to-make-him-so-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Browse all 74 Alpha and omega quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alpha-and-omega/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose, if God is not studied. We know little of the creature, till we know it as it stands related to the Creator: single letters, and syllables uncomposed, are no better than nonsense. He who overlooketh him who is the 'Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' and seeth not him in all who is the All of all, doth see nothing at all. All creatures, as such, are broken syllables; they signify nothing as separated from God. Were they separated actually, they would cease to be, and the separation would be annhiliation; and when we separate them in our fancies, we make nothing of them to ourselves. It is one thing to know the creatures as Aristotle, and another thing to know them as a Christian. None but a Christian can read one line of his Physics so as to understand it rightly. It is a high and excellent study, and of greater use than many apprehend; but it is the smallest part of it that Aristotle can teach us.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Baxter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alpha and omega" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aef/richard-baxter-2985_alpha-and-omega_nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-n_1966087.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing can be rightly known, if God be not known; nor is any study well managed, nor to any great purpose…” — Richard Baxter", "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": "Richard Baxter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nothing can be rightly known, if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/nothing-can-be-rightly-known-if-god-be-not-known-nor-is-any-study-3/#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 } } ] } ```