---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The four points of the compass be logic…"
description: "\"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 ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png"
---

#  The four points of the compass be logic, knowledge, wisdom…

![“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…” quote by Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png)

> “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.”

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

## About This Quote

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

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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bows/) [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Compass Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass-logic-4806123/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Final Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-direction-4806124/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-wisdom/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Points Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/points-compass-1640634/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Submit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

## Related quotes

> [Life is not a chain of events but an area-something spreading out from a hidden centre and welling at once toward all points of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-graham/life-is-not-a-chain-of-events-but-an-area-something-spreading-out/)

[Stephen Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-graham/)

> [There are no points of the compass on the chart of true patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-winthrop/there-are-no-points-of-the-compass-on-the-chart-of-true-patriotism/)

[Robert Charles Winthrop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-winthrop/)

> [Every man has to learn the points of the compass again as often as he awakes, whether from sleep or any abstraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-man-has-to-learn-the-points-of-the-compass-again-as-often-as-he/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“Every person, I have come to believe, has a moment or a place in life when all four points of the compass converge, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-geye/every-person-i-have-come-to-believe-has-a-moment-or-a-place-in-life/)

[Peter Geye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-geye/)

> [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/it-will-be-seen-that-the-form-of-the-mountain-s-spurs-were-very-much/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [“Then the one called Raltariki is really a demon?" asked Tak. "Yes—and no," said Yama, "If by 'demon' you mean a malefic, supernatural creature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/then-the-one-called-raltariki-is-really-a-demon-asked-tak-yes-and-no/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [Knowledge and wisdom must go hand in hand. The adept will therefore endeavour to get on in knowledge as well as in wisdom, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-bardon/knowledge-and-wisdom-must-go-hand-in-hand-the-adept-will-therefore/)

[Franz Bardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-bardon/)

> [The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-fear-of-the-lord-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/)

[Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/)

> [“Gaining knowledge without wisdom is like reaching heaven and never entering the gates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wn-stanley/gaining-knowledge-without-wisdom-is-like-reaching-heaven-and-never/)

[WN Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wn-stanley/)

> [“He learned that the lives of men are short and filled with pain, yet each one a priceless treasure, whether it be that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/he-learned-that-the-lives-of-men-are-short-and-filled-with-pain-yet/)

[Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/)

> [I have not always been this way. I had to learn from someone with the Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding. I AM GRATEFUL. Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/i-have-not-always-been-this-way-i-had-to-learn-from-someone-with-the/)

[Lisa's Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-s-voice/)

> [“No knowledge comes from the outside world or an imaginary supernatural paradise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-knowledge-comes-from-the-outside-world-or-an-imaginary/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“If it be knowledge or wisdom one is seeking, then one had better go direct to the source. And the source is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/if-it-be-knowledge-or-wisdom-one-is-seeking-then-one-had-better-go/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/)

[John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/)

> [“Here is a man who by all conventions should have been a denizen of the lower depths of society: ignored, illiterate, disfigured, limping, penniless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sugich/here-is-a-man-who-by-all-conventions-should-have-been-a-denizen-of/)

[Michael Sugich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sugich/)

## More by Roger Zelazny

> [“I was willing to die fighting, but it was senseless for all these men to go down with me. Perhaps my blood was tainted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-was-willing-to-die-fighting-but-it-was-senseless-for-all-these-men/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [I know, too, that death is the only god who comes when you call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-know-too-that-death-is-the-only-god-who-comes-when-you-call/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [There's no such thing as civilization. The word just means the art of living in cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/there-s-no-such-thing-as-civilization-the-word-just-means-the-art-of/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [“Time, too, is a function of Shadow, and even Dworkin did not know all of its ins and outs. Or perhaps he did. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/time-too-is-a-function-of-shadow-and-even-dworkin-did-not-know-all-of/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [I've always been impulsive. My thinking is usually pretty good, but I always seem to do it after I do my talking — by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-ve-always-been-impulsive-my-thinking-is-usually-pretty-good-but-i/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [“And again, damn. Of troubles I considered myself amply possessed. But those who have do seem to get. Some spiritual form of compound interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/and-again-damn-of-troubles-i-considered-myself-amply-possessed-but/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [“Far below, the ocean was a bluegray rug being pulled out from beneath us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/far-below-the-ocean-was-a-bluegray-rug-being-pulled-out-from-beneath/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [A powerful flight of the imagination . . . an entirely enjoyable reading experience, wrought by a pair of writers noted for excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/a-powerful-flight-of-the-imagination-an-entirely-enjoyable-reading/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [The function of criticism should not be confused with the function of reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-function-of-criticism-should-not-be-confused-with-the-function-of/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [I always wanted to write, ever since I was a kid. I started writing at the age of 11. All I wanted to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-always-wanted-to-write-ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-started-writing-at/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [While I had often said that I wanted to die in bed, what I really meant was that in my old age I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/while-i-had-often-said-that-i-wanted-to-die-in-bed-what-i-really/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [“That was the first time in my life that I knew the meaning of despair. I read, I worked, I drank, I whored, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/that-was-the-first-time-in-my-life-that-i-knew-the-meaning-of-despair/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [“I watched until the sizzlecloud drew its legs up into itself, hung like a burning cocoon, then died like an ember retreating into ash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-watched-until-the-sizzlecloud-drew-its-legs-up-into-itself-hung/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [To waste! You are unknown and unwanted, save by me. This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/to-waste-you-are-unknown-and-unwanted-save-by-me-this-because-you-are/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

> [I watched the spinning stars, grateful, sad and proud, as only a man who has outlived his destiny and realizes he might yet forge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/i-watched-the-spinning-stars-grateful-sad-and-proud-as-only-a-man-who/)

[Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

[Explore all 220 Roger Zelazny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/)

## More Bows quotes

> [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-yet-i-do-believe-there-is-ultimately-meaning-in-the-chaos-and/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/)

[Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/)

> [Steadying herself with both hands on the table, she managed an awkward bow… 'Your Highness,' she stammered, head lowered... The prince flinched and cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/steadying-herself-with-both-hands-on-the-table-she-managed-an-awkward/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [I did archery when I was in high school. In our gym class we had two weeks of archery, and I remember taking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/i-did-archery-when-i-was-in-high-school-in-our-gym-class-we-had-two/)

[John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/)

> [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [Pain and pleasure, good and evil, come to us from unexpected sources. It is not there where we have gathered up our brightest hopes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/pain-and-pleasure-good-and-evil-come-to-us-from-unexpected-sources-it/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [A lot of celebrities just want money, fame, power, fancy cars, houses all over the world and have people BOW DOWN to them. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/a-lot-of-celebrities-just-want-money-fame-power-fancy-cars-houses-all/)

[Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/)

> [Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/much-bending-breaks-the-bow-much-unbending-the-mind/)

[Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/)

> [Things don't always tie up in a nice bow. Even when you make strides with people and relationships, it's complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tveit/things-don-t-always-tie-up-in-a-nice-bow-even-when-you-make-strides/)

[Aaron Tveit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tveit/)

> [I pray everywhere--in the shower, on a plane, in traffic, you name it. When I feel like I have had enough, I will literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-pray-everywhere-in-the-shower-on-a-plane-in-traffic-you-name-it/)

[Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/)

[Browse all 739 Bows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bows/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "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.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Roger Zelazny"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic-knowledge-wisdom-and-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bows"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic-knowledge-wisdom-and-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/roger-zelazny-1604_bows_the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic_3007795.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The four points of the compass be logic, knowledge, wisdom and the unknown. Some do bow in that final…” — Roger Zelazny",
                "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": "Roger Zelazny",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The four points of the compass...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic-knowledge-wisdom-and-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-four-points-of-the-compass-be-logic-knowledge-wisdom-and-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
