Animals Quote by Rumi
“Creatures are cups. The sciences and the arts and all branches of knowledge are inscriptions around the outside of the cups. When a cup shatters, the writing can no longer be read. The wine's the thing! The wine that's held in the mold of these physical cups. Drink the wine and know what lasts and what to love. The man who truly asks must be sure of two things: One, that he's mistaken in what he's doing or thinking now. And two, that there is a wisdom he doesn't know yet. Asking is half of knowing.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Attributed to Rumi, possibly a modern translation
Knowledge is like a cup; external labels fade when the cup breaks, but the essence (wine) remains; questioning reveals deeper wisdom
In simple terms: Knowledge is a cup, essence endures, questioning reveals wisdom
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity and humility
Themes
wisdom
knowledge
humility
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- education
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Epistemology
Sufi mysticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does questioning change understanding?
- What is the "wine" you seek?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex epistemic processes
