---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought God cannot be Fullness of…"
description: "\"“I thought God cannot be Fullness of Being. For Life is Motion.----- For Life is Motion toward Knowledge. If God is Complete Knowledge then He is Compl..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg"
---

#  I thought God cannot be Fullness of Being. For Life is…

![“I thought God cannot be Fullness of Being. For Life is Motion.----- For Life is Motion toward Knowledge. If God is Complete Knowledge then He is Complete Non-Motion, which is Non-Life, which is Death. Therefore, if there is such a God of Fullness of Being, we would worship Death, the Father.” quote by Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg)

> ““I thought God cannot be Fullness of Being. For Life is Motion.----- For Life is Motion toward Knowledge. If God is Complete Knowledge then He is Complete Non-Motion, which is Non-Life, which is Death. Therefore, if there is such a God of Fullness of Being, we would worship Death, the Father.””

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He argues that a God defined as complete knowledge would be motionless, equating such a deity with death, thus questioning worship of a static divinity.

**In simple terms:** A static, all‑knowing God would be dead.

Key Takeaway

Question static conceptions of divinity.

Themes

theology philosophy existence

Mood

thought‑provoking skeptical

Type

philosophical theological

When to use this quote

- religious debate
- philosophical discussion
- personal belief
- academic lecture

Key Concepts

metaphysics knowledge life‑motion

Questions to Reflect On

- Is motion essential for life?
- Can knowledge exist without change?

A Different Perspective

The argument assumes motion equals life, which is contested.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [“For Life is Motion toward Knowledge. If God is Complete Knowledge then He is Complete Non-Motion, which is Non-Life, which is Death. Therefore, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/for-life-is-motion-toward-knowledge-if-god-is-complete-knowledge-then/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [All will be redeemed in God's fullness of time, all, not just the small portion of the population who have been given the grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/all-will-be-redeemed-in-god-s-fullness-of-time-all-not-just-the-small/)

[Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/)

> [And now we beseech of Thee that we may have every day some such sense of God's mercy and of the power of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/and-now-we-beseech-of-thee-that-we-may-have-every-day-some-such-sense/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [“These times of waiting on God for the fullness of the Spirit are times when He searches the heart and tests the mind (Jer. 17:10).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/these-times-of-waiting-on-god-for-the-fullness-of-the-spirit-are/)

[Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/)

> [“God’s fullness and human emptiness: the collision of these opposing forces is dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lilles/god-s-fullness-and-human-emptiness-the-collision-of-these-opposing/)

[Anthony Lilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lilles/)

> [...True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/true-prayer-is-measured-by-weight-not-by-length-a-single-groan-before/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“Only by emptying ourselves out before God will we find fullness within ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-deturris-poust/only-by-emptying-ourselves-out-before-god-will-we-find-fullness/)

[Mary DeTurris Poust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-deturris-poust/)

> [Gratitude unlocks fullness of life. It imparts a sense of satisfaction and appreciation. In the meantime one should not forget that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/gratitude-unlocks-fullness-of-life-it-imparts-a-sense-of-satisfaction/)

[Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/)

> [I believe that is what the God experience does for us. It calls us beyond our limits into the fullness of life - into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-believe-that-is-what-the-god-experience-does-for-us-it-calls-us/)

[John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/)

> [But we have only begun to love the earth. We have only begun to imagine the fullness of life. How could we tire of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/but-we-have-only-begun-to-love-the-earth-we-have-only-begun-to/)

[Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/)

> [The fullness of life comes from an identity built on giving and on joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fullness-of-life-comes-from-an-identity-built-on-giving-and-on-joy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life-it-turns-what-we-have-into/)

[Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/)

> [Only gratefulness, in the form of limitless openness for surprise, lays hold of the fullness of life in hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/only-gratefulness-in-the-form-of-limitless-openness-for-surprise-lays/)

[David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/)

> [Faith is more important to me than life itself because without it there would be no fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/faith-is-more-important-to-me-than-life-itself-because-without-it/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [“Giving Thanks unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have, no matter how little, into more than enough. It turns denial into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/giving-thanks-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life-it-turns-what-we-have-no/)

[Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/)

## More by Robert Penn Warren

> [If you are an idealist, it does not matter what you do or what goes on around you because it isn't real anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/if-you-are-an-idealist-it-does-not-matter-what-you-do-or-what-goes-on/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [“The child comes home and the parent puts the hooks in him. The old man, or the woman, as the case may be, hasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/the-child-comes-home-and-the-parent-puts-the-hooks-in-him-the-old-man/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [The poem is a little myth of man's capacity of making life meaningful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/the-poem-is-a-little-myth-of-man-s-capacity-of-making-life-meaningful/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [“There is nothing more alone than being in a car at night in the rain. I was in the car. And I was glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/there-is-nothing-more-alone-than-being-in-a-car-at-night-in-the-rain/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [“No, the Boss corrected, I'm not a lawyer. I know some law. ... but I'm not a lawyer. That's why I can see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/no-the-boss-corrected-i-m-not-a-lawyer-i-know-some-law-but-i-m-not-a/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [ \[A\]nd soon now we shall go out of the house and go into the convulsion of the world, out of history into history and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/a-nd-soon-now-we-shall-go-out-of-the-house-and-go-into-the-convulsion/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [“Those were the ones which would turn loose their grip on the branch before long-- not in any breeze, the fibers would just relax,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/those-were-the-ones-which-would-turn-loose-their-grip-on-the-branch/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [“Sometimes sleep gets to be a serious and complete thing. You stop going to sleep in order that you may be able to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/sometimes-sleep-gets-to-be-a-serious-and-complete-thing-you-stop/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [“He thought of night coming on. He thought of the loneliness of tonight, this first night in the ground. This, he thought, was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/he-thought-of-night-coming-on-he-thought-of-the-loneliness-of-tonight/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [I reckon I am a smart aleck, but it is just a way to pass the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/i-reckon-i-am-a-smart-aleck-but-it-is-just-a-way-to-pass-the-time/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [The poem is not a thing we see; it is, rather, a light by which we may see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/the-poem-is-not-a-thing-we-see-it-is-rather-a-light-by-which-we-may/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [The asking and the answering which history provides may help us to understand, even to frame, the logic of experience to which we shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/the-asking-and-the-answering-which-history-provides-may-help-us-to/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [Process as process is neither morally good nor morally bad. We may judge results but not process. The morally bad agent may perform the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/process-as-process-is-neither-morally-good-nor-morally-bad-we-may/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [The end of man is knowledge, but there is one thing he can't know. He can't know whether knowledge will save him or kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/the-end-of-man-is-knowledge-but-there-is-one-thing-he-can-t-know-he/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

> [For the truth is a terrible thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/for-the-truth-is-a-terrible-thing/)

[Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

[Explore all 184 Robert Penn Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/)

## More God quotes

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/)

[Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

[Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I thought God cannot be Fullness of Being. For Life is Motion.----- For Life is Motion toward Knowledge. If God is Complete Knowledge then He is Complete Non-Motion, which is Non-Life, which is Death. Therefore, if there is such a God of Fullness of Being, we would worship Death, the Father.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Penn Warren"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-being-for-life-is-motion-for-life/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "God"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-being-for-life-is-motion-for-life/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/642/robert-penn-warren-2118_god_i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-bein_2894954.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I thought God cannot be Fullness of Being. For Life is Motion.----- For Life is Motion toward Knowledge. If…” — Robert Penn Warren",
                "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": "Robert Penn Warren",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I thought God cannot be Fullness...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-being-for-life-is-motion-for-life/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/i-thought-god-cannot-be-fullness-of-being-for-life-is-motion-for-life/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
