--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that despairs measures Providence by…" description: "\"He that despairs measures Providence by his own little contracted model and limits infinite power to finite apprehensions.\" — Robert South" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg" --- # He that despairs measures Providence by his own little… ![“He that despairs measures Providence by his own little contracted model and limits infinite power to finite apprehensions.” quote by Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg) > “He that despairs measures Providence by his own little contracted model and limits infinite power to finite apprehensions.” [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) ## 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 human despair stems from limiting divine or universal power to narrow, human-made concepts, thus restricting understanding. **In simple terms:** Despair comes from limiting infinite power to small ideas. Key Takeaway Expand your perspective beyond limited models. Themes faith philosophy human limitation Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - creative problem solving Key Concepts theology existentialism cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we recognize our own mental constraints? - What practices help broaden our view of the infinite? A Different Perspective It may underestimate the role of tangible limits in human experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anticipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) [Apprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprehension/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despairs Measures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despairs-measures-3533736/) [Finite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finite/) [Finite Apprehensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finite-apprehensions-3533735/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Infinite power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-power/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Little Contracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-contracted-3533738/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Measures Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measures-providence-3533737/) [Models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/models/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) ## Related quotes > [So he that despairs, limits an Infinite Power to a Finite Apprehension, and measures Providence by his own little, contracted Model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/so-he-that-despairs-limits-an-infinite-power-to-a-finite-apprehension/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Reason is the true creative power, for it produces itself as Infinite Self-consciousness, and its ongoing creation is...world history. As the only power that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-bauer/reason-is-the-true-creative-power-for-it-produces-itself-as-infinite/) [Bruno Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-bauer/) > [But neither infinite power nor infinite wisdom could bestow godhood upon men. For that there would have to be infinite love as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/but-neither-infinite-power-nor-infinite-wisdom-could-bestow-godhood/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Do you know how much energy, how many powers, how many forces, are still lurking behind that frame of yours? What scientist has known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/do-you-know-how-much-energy-how-many-powers-how-many-forces-are-still/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [If you tell the truth, you have infinite power supporting you; but if not, you have infinite power against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-tell-the-truth-you-have-infinite-power-supporting-you-but-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If God in all of His infinite power and love were real to us, the opinions of men, either for or against us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-hunt/if-god-in-all-of-his-infinite-power-and-love-were-real-to-us-the/) [Dave Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-hunt/) > [Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/owning-our-story-can-be-hard-but-not-nearly-as-difficult-as-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Behind me is infinite power, before me is endless possibility, around me is boundless opportunity. My strength is mental, physical and spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/50-cent/behind-me-is-infinite-power-before-me-is-endless-possibility-around/) [50 Cent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/50-cent/) > [Have faith in yourself. You people were once the Vedic Rishis. Only, you have come in different forms, that's all. I see it clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/have-faith-in-yourself-you-people-were-once-the-vedic-rishis-only-you/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“I Approve of my power to create Infinite love I am, Infinite Power I am Grateful we are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-blanco/i-approve-of-my-power-to-create-infinite-love-i-am-infinite-power-i/) [Rhys Blanco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-blanco/) > [“Music has infinite power to reach the gap between the heart and the soul to create infinite and ineffable joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/music-has-infinite-power-to-reach-the-gap-between-the-heart-and-the/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [When you contact the Higher Self, the source of power within, you tap into a reservoir of infinite power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-you-contact-the-higher-self-the-source-of-power-within-you-tap/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Each person is born with an infinite power, against which no earthly force is of the slightest significance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-goddard/each-person-is-born-with-an-infinite-power-against-which-no-earthly/) [Neville Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-goddard/) > [ Let us realise \[that\] we are the infinite power. Who put a limit to the power of mind? Let us realise we are all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-us-realise-that-we-are-the-infinite-power-who-put-a-limit-to-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The history of the world is the history of a few men who had faith in themselves. That faith calls out the divinity within.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-history-of-the-world-is-the-history-of-a-few-men-who-had-faith-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Robert South > [There is not the least flower but seems to hold up its head, and to look pleasantly, in the secret sense of the goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/there-is-not-the-least-flower-but-seems-to-hold-up-its-head-and-to/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Action is the highest perfection and drawing forth of the utmost power, vigor, and activity of man's nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/action-is-the-highest-perfection-and-drawing-forth-of-the-utmost/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Loquacity storms the ear, but modesty takes the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/loquacity-storms-the-ear-but-modesty-takes-the-heart/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [The mind begins to boggle at unnatural substances as things paradoxical and incomprehensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/the-mind-begins-to-boggle-at-unnatural-substances-as-things/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [The grateful person fears no court or judge, no sentence or executioner, but what he carries about him in his own breast: and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/the-grateful-person-fears-no-court-or-judge-no-sentence-or/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [In all worldly things that a man pursues with the greatest eagerness he finds not half the pleasure in the possession that he proposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/in-all-worldly-things-that-a-man-pursues-with-the-greatest-eagerness/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Speech was given to the ordinary sort or men, whereby to communicate their mind; but to wise men, whereby to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/speech-was-given-to-the-ordinary-sort-or-men-whereby-to-communicate/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [God expects from men something more than at such times, and that it were much to be wished for the credit of their religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/god-expects-from-men-something-more-than-at-such-times-and-that-it/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [It is a noble and great thing to cover the blemishes and excuse the failings of a friend; to draw a curtain before his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/it-is-a-noble-and-great-thing-to-cover-the-blemishes-and-excuse-the/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [The seven wise men of Greece, so famous for their wisdom all the world over, acquired all that fame, each of them, by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/the-seven-wise-men-of-greece-so-famous-for-their-wisdom-all-the-world/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Flints may be melted - we see it daily - but an ungrateful heart cannot be; not by the strongest and noblest flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/flints-may-be-melted-we-see-it-daily-but-an-ungrateful-heart-cannot/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [He who does a kindness to an ungrateful person, sets his seal to a flint and sows his seed upon the sand; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/he-who-does-a-kindness-to-an-ungrateful-person-sets-his-seal-to-a/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [Anger is a transient hatred; or at least very like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/anger-is-a-transient-hatred-or-at-least-very-like-it/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [God afflicts with the mind of a father, and kills for no other purpose but that he may raise again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/god-afflicts-with-the-mind-of-a-father-and-kills-for-no-other-purpose/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) > [A man's life is an appendix to his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/a-man-s-life-is-an-appendix-to-his-heart/) [Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) [Explore all 42 Robert South quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/) ## More Anticipation quotes > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of anticipation, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/long-intros-are-cool-because-there-s-a-little-bit-of-anticipation-you/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“O I'm so afraid that it's true about to travel hopefully being better than to arrive. It might be all in the quest, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-brophy/o-i-m-so-afraid-that-it-s-true-about-to-travel-hopefully-being-better/) [Brigid Brophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-brophy/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/) [Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/) > [The so called unconscious inferences can be traced back to the all-preserving memory, which presents us with parallel experiences and hence already knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-so-called-unconscious-inferences-can-be-traced-back-to-the-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [I am honoured to be asked to take on this role, especially as it comes at such an integral time for our relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boateng/i-am-honoured-to-be-asked-to-take-on-this-role-especially-as-it-comes/) [Paul Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-boateng/) > [“I can handle Evil, but I cannot handle Anticipation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabbo-de-la-parra/i-can-handle-evil-but-i-cannot-handle-anticipation/) [Gabbo De La Parra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabbo-de-la-parra/) > [Hope is itself a species of happiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/hope-is-itself-a-species-of-happiness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 758 Anticipation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He that despairs measures Providence by his own little contracted model and limits infinite power to finite apprehensions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert South" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by-his-own-little-contracted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anticipation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by-his-own-little-contracted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/robert-south-15753_anticipation_he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by_1190817.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He that despairs measures Providence by his own little contracted model and limits infinite power to finite…” — Robert South", "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 South", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He that despairs measures Providence by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by-his-own-little-contracted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/he-that-despairs-measures-providence-by-his-own-little-contracted/#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 } } ] } ```