Bows Quote by Roger Zelazny
“The four points of the compass be logic, knowledge, wisdom and the unknown. Some do bow in that final direction. Others advance upon it. To bow before the one is to lose sight of the three. I may submit to the unknown, but never to the unknowable. The man who bows in that final direction is either a saint or a fool. I have no use for either.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Dream Master, Roger Zelazny, 1966
Balancing known knowledge with mystery; over‑reliance on the unknown blinds one to what is already understood.
In simple terms: Don’t let mystery erase what you already know.
Key Takeaway
Respect both mystery and certainty.
Themes
knowledge
wisdom
unknown
balance
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- leadership
- personal growth
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
epistemology
philosophy
metaphysics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you integrate uncertainty without neglecting what you know?
- When is it wise to embrace the unknown?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on the unknowable can stall progress.
![“It will be seen that the form of the mountain’s spurs were very much [the] same as they appear on Thror’s map as published (with the height of Ravenhill at the end of the southern spur and the camp beneath it); but the ruins of Dale are on the east side of the River Running, since they were not…” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/40c/j-r-r-tolkien-204_points-compass_it-will-be-seen-that-the-form-of-the-mou_2601572.jpg)
