--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as the moon derives the light it…" description: "\"“Just as the moon derives the light it reflects from the sun, so the rational human mind derives a created ability to know from its origin, God.”\" — Ro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg" --- # Just as the moon derives the light it reflects from the… ![“Just as the moon derives the light it reflects from the sun, so the rational human mind derives a created ability to know from its origin, God.” quote by Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg) > ““Just as the moon derives the light it reflects from the sun, so the rational human mind derives a created ability to know from its origin, God.”” [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human rationality reflects divine origin, just as moonlight reflects sunlight, indicating knowledge stems from God. **In simple terms:** Reason mirrors God’s source. Key Takeaway Seek truth rooted in divine origin. Themes theology philosophy knowledge origin reflection Mood thoughtful inquisitive spiritual Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - spiritual reflection - philosophical inquiry - theological study Key Concepts mirrored light rational mind divine source creation Questions to Reflect On - Is knowledge always dependent on a divine source? - Can reason exist independently? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify complex epistemology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Derives Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derives-light-5299549/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Mind Derives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-derives-5299548/) [Moon Derives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-derives-5299547/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rationality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationality/) [Sun Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun-rational-5299550/) ## Related quotes > [ “There's a whole \[...\] art to finding the truth and accomplishing value from inside a human mind : we have to learn our own… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/there-s-a-whole-art-to-finding-the-truth-and-accomplishing-value-from/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [Institutional psychiatry is a continuation of the Inquisition. All that has really changed is the vocabulary and the social style. The vocabulary conforms to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/institutional-psychiatry-is-a-continuation-of-the-inquisition-all/) [Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/) > [ I like \[Barak\] Obama. I like him. So how far does rationality help to persuade anybody? You know, I'm not so sure. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-like-barak-obama-i-like-him-so-how-far-does-rationality-help-to/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [European policy is always an interplay of rationality and emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/european-policy-is-always-an-interplay-of-rationality-and-emotion/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [So few of us really think. What we do is rearrange our prejudges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-vincent/so-few-of-us-really-think-what-we-do-is-rearrange-our-prejudges/) [George Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-vincent/) > [“the thing about fear is that it defies the laws of rationality. It creates its own laws instead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-thing-about-fear-is-that-it-defies-the-laws-of-rationality-it/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The more rational we are, the more emotional we can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nino-gruettke/the-more-rational-we-are-the-more-emotional-we-can-be/) [Nino Gruettke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nino-gruettke/) > [“Once your fairytale gets shattered multiple times, life will finally paint reality in its place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaeeshia-ratcliff-davis/once-your-fairytale-gets-shattered-multiple-times-life-will-finally/) [VaeEshia Ratcliff-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaeeshia-ratcliff-davis/) > [“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-sides-it-s-a-nontrivial-to-do/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Most haystacks do not even have a needle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-lamas/most-haystacks-do-not-even-have-a-needle/) [Lorenzo Lamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-lamas/) > [“It's no use preaching to the choir. The rulebook, evidence, and good, old-fashioned fact-checking – let alone human decency – have been thrown out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-forester/it-s-no-use-preaching-to-the-choir-the-rulebook-evidence-and-good-old/) [H.M. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-forester/) > [“When a human being develops an argument, when a human being attempts not only to think but to speak with precision, he or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dewitt/when-a-human-being-develops-an-argument-when-a-human-being-attempts/) [Helen DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dewitt/) > [“When it comes to the Big Questions in Life, the preponderance of evidence should be our best advisor to inform our Beliefs. The companion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-goedken/when-it-comes-to-the-big-questions-in-life-the-preponderance-of/) [Brian Goedken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-goedken/) > [I regard individuality as the most precious trait we have, because without it there is no creativity, there is no consciousness, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/i-regard-individuality-as-the-most-precious-trait-we-have-because/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Truth is much too complicated to allow anything but approximations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-von-neumann/truth-is-much-too-complicated-to-allow-anything-but-approximations/) [John von Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-von-neumann/) ## More by Ronald H. Nash > [“Every person has something that concerns her ultimately and whatever it is, that object of ultimate concern is that person's God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/every-person-has-something-that-concerns-her-ultimately-and-whatever/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [Even though most people who reject Christianity treat it as a refuge for enemies of reason, the truth is that there may be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/even-though-most-people-who-reject-christianity-treat-it-as-a-refuge/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [While contemporary non-Evangelicals have virtually reduced faith to 'courageous ignorance,' Evangelicals have hardly been faithful in defending God's objective communication of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/while-contemporary-non-evangelicals-have-virtually-reduced-faith-to/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [If the Christian church is to move responsibly towards the future, it must restore or renew its ties with its past. Contemporary Catholic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/if-the-christian-church-is-to-move-responsibly-towards-the-future-it/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [The secular and religious Left find it convenient to demonize politically conservative Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/the-secular-and-religious-left-find-it-convenient-to-demonize/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [Whatever a person's ultimate concern may be, it will have an enormous influence on everything else the person does or believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/whatever-a-person-s-ultimate-concern-may-be-it-will-have-an-enormous/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [“When any individual or collection of individuals acts in disobedience to the moral order, short-term gratification may be experienced; but such behavior produces an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/when-any-individual-or-collection-of-individuals-acts-in-disobedience/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [One thing evangelicals want is a reprieve from intolerance against their beliefs, values, and practices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/one-thing-evangelicals-want-is-a-reprieve-from-intolerance-against/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [The religious opponents of Christian conservatives are presented as moderates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/the-religious-opponents-of-christian-conservatives-are-presented-as/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [“The world is not composed of religious and non-religious people. It is composed rather of religious people who have differing ultimate concerns, different gods,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/the-world-is-not-composed-of-religious-and-non-religious-people-it-is/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [Extremist groups like People for the American Way attack Christians who run for public office as a threat to the 'separation of church and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/extremist-groups-like-people-for-the-american-way-attack-christians/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) > [“Efforts to remove the Christian faith from subjects like American history distort the content of the subject. Just as wrong is the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/efforts-to-remove-the-christian-faith-from-subjects-like-american/) [Ronald H. Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) [Explore all 13 Ronald H. Nash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“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/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [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/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just as the moon derives the light it reflects from the sun, so the rational human mind derives a created ability to know from its origin, God.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald H. Nash" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-reflects-from-the-sun-so-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-reflects-from-the-sun-so-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/ronald-h-nash-35137_christianity_just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-re_666355.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as the moon derives the light it reflects from the sun, so the rational human mind derives a created…” — Ronald H. Nash", "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": "Ronald H. Nash", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-h-nash/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Just as the moon derives the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-reflects-from-the-sun-so-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-h-nash/just-as-the-moon-derives-the-light-it-reflects-from-the-sun-so-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 } } ] } ```