---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We therefore conclude that no philosophy…"
description: "\"“We therefore conclude that no philosophy and no system of life produced by human thought can have the characteristic of \"comprehensiveness.\" At most, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg"
---

#  We therefore conclude that no philosophy and no system of…

![“We therefore conclude that no philosophy and no system of life produced by human thought can have the characteristic of &quot;comprehensiveness.&quot; At most, it can cover a segment of human life and can be valid for a temporary period. Because of its limited scope, it is always deficient in many respects…” quote by Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg)

> ““We therefore conclude that no philosophy and no system of life produced by human thought can have the characteristic of "comprehensiveness." At most, it can cover a segment of human life and can be valid for a temporary period. Because of its limited scope, it is always deficient in many respects, and because of its temporariness it is bound to cause problems that require modifications and changes in the original philosophy or system of life. Peoples and nations basing their social, political, and economic systems on human philosophies are forever confronted with contradictions and "dialectics." The history of European peoples is an example of such a process.””

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

## About This Quote

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

Human philosophies are inherently limited, temporary, and cause contradictions requiring continual revision.

**In simple terms:** Ideas are never all‑encompassing; they need updating.

Key Takeaway

Accept that systems will evolve and stay adaptable.

Themes

philosophy history politics society change

Mood

reflective critical

Type

theoretical analytical

When to use this quote

- policy design
- national governance
- social reform
- educational curricula

Key Concepts

dialectics temporality incompleteness

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we design flexible systems?
- What safeguards prevent stagnation?

A Different Perspective

Philosophies may still guide useful frameworks despite flaws.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Economic system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-system/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Human thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-thought/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/)

## Related quotes

> [“They have provided a system which for terse comprehensiveness surpasses Justinian's Pandects and the By-laws of the Chinese Society for the Suppression of Meddling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/they-have-provided-a-system-which-for-terse-comprehensiveness/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [I'm pretty involved in everything I do, which isn't always efficient and doesn't necessarily make for the more successful product. But I do feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/i-m-pretty-involved-in-everything-i-do-which-isn-t-always-efficient/)

[Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/)

> [To continue down the path of comprehensiveness, Wikipedia will need to sustain the astonishing mass fervor of its birth years. Will that be possible?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/to-continue-down-the-path-of-comprehensiveness-wikipedia-will-need-to/)

[James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/)

> [“We often speak of Anglican "comprehensiveness." If this is a way of making relativism palatable or a means of accommodating all shades of opinion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urban-tigner-holmes/we-often-speak-of-anglican-comprehensiveness-if-this-is-a-way-of/)

Urban Tigner Holmes

> [Comprehensiveness is the enemy of comprehensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fowler/comprehensiveness-is-the-enemy-of-comprehensibility/)

[Martin Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fowler/)

> [“Comprehensiveness is connecting the relevant elements of an event in a logical sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-hussam-atef-elkhatib/comprehensiveness-is-connecting-the-relevant-elements-of-an-event-in/)

[Dr. Hussam Atef Elkhatib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-hussam-atef-elkhatib/)

> [The publication in 1859 of the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin made a marked epoch in my own mental development, as it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-galton/the-publication-in-1859-of-the-origin-of-species-by-charles-darwin/)

[Francis Galton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-galton/)

> [Today, when you combine the web with the iPad, you have the most advanced medium for human thought and communication ever created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/today-when-you-combine-the-web-with-the-ipad-you-have-the-most/)

[Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/)

> [Just as a pool of water cannot reflect the sky overhead when it is restless and disturbed, so we can never get a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hegan-rice/just-as-a-pool-of-water-cannot-reflect-the-sky-overhead-when-it-is/)

[Alice Hegan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hegan-rice/)

> [ \[One task of intellectuals is\] to break down the stereotypes and reductive categories that are . . . limiting to human thought and communication. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/one-task-of-intellectuals-is-to-break-down-the-stereotypes-and/)

[Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/)

> [Never yet has a God been defined in terms which were not palpably self-contradictory and absurd; never yet has a God been described so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/never-yet-has-a-god-been-defined-in-terms-which-were-not-palpably/)

[Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/)

> [Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Of human thought or form, where art thou gone?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/spirit-of-beauty-that-dost-consecrate-with-thine-own-hues-all-thou/)

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/)

> [The velocity of light occupies an extraordinary place in modern physics. It is lèse-majesté to make any criticism of the velocity of light. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-standen/the-velocity-of-light-occupies-an-extraordinary-place-in-modern/)

[Anthony Standen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-standen/)

> [When it comes to explaining human thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/when-it-comes-to-explaining-human-thought-and-behavior-the/)

[Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/)

> [The everlasting universe of things Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark--now glittering--now reflecting gloom-- Now lending splendour, where from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-everlasting-universe-of-things-flows-through-the-mind-and-rolls/)

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/)

## More by Sayyid Qutb

> [It may happen that the enemies of Islam may consider it expedient not to take any action against Islam, if Islam leaves them alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/it-may-happen-that-the-enemies-of-islam-may-consider-it-expedient-not/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [Indeed our words will remain lifeless, barren, devoid of any passion, until we die as a result of these words, whereupon our words will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/indeed-our-words-will-remain-lifeless-barren-devoid-of-any-passion/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [A martyr is the one who bears witness that the Shari'ah of Allah is more valuable to him than his own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/a-martyr-is-the-one-who-bears-witness-that-the-shari-ah-of-allah-is/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [Absolute justice demands that mens incomes and rewards should ... vary, and that some have more than others-so long as human justice is upheld…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/absolute-justice-demands-that-mens-incomes-and-rewards-should-vary/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [Verily, the index finger that testifies to the oneness of Allah Azzawajal in prayer, utterly rejects to write even an alphabet, endorsing the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/verily-the-index-finger-that-testifies-to-the-oneness-of-allah/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [ Jazz is the favorite music \[of America\]. It is a type of music invented by \[American\] Blacks to please their primitive tendencies and desire… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/jazz-is-the-favorite-music-of-america-it-is-a-type-of-music-invented/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [ Islam cannot accept or agree to a situation which is half-Islam and half-Jahiliyya \[separated from God\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/islam-cannot-accept-or-agree-to-a-situation-which-is-half-islam-and/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [All people go to Allah after their death, but the happy person is the one who goes to Allah while still alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/all-people-go-to-allah-after-their-death-but-the-happy-person-is-the/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

> [Faith is not by wishful thinking, it is what takes root in the heart and shows in one's actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/faith-is-not-by-wishful-thinking-it-is-what-takes-root-in-the-heart/)

[Sayyid Qutb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

[Explore all 10 Sayyid Qutb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/)

## More Economic system quotes

> [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [One set of messages of the society we live in is: Consume. Grow. Do what you want. Amuse yourselves. The very working of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/one-set-of-messages-of-the-society-we-live-in-is-consume-grow-do-what/)

[Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/)

> [“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/humans-as-a-species-are-constantly-and-in-every-way-comparing/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Socialism most always leads to a failure of democracy because the economic system ultimately cannot provide for its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-regan/socialism-most-always-leads-to-a-failure-of-democracy-because-the/)

[Trish Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-regan/)

> [“In theory, capitalism is an economic system that allows people to freely trade goods and services in a competitive free market. But since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-adams/in-theory-capitalism-is-an-economic-system-that-allows-people-to/)

[Martin Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-adams/)

> [Any nations right to a form of government and economic system of its own choosing is inalienable. Any nations attempt to dictate to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/any-nations-right-to-a-form-of-government-and-economic-system-of-its/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [The final goal of world revolution is not socialism, or even communism, it is not a change in the present economic system, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-v-deponcins/the-final-goal-of-world-revolution-is-not-socialism-or-even-communism/)

[Leon V. DePoncins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-v-deponcins/)

> [We live in a time when all elites, whether on the left or the right, believe in rigid rules that say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-curtis/we-live-in-a-time-when-all-elites-whether-on-the-left-or-the-right/)

[Adam Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-curtis/)

> [There is a certain beauty and refinement that is often found in our world and it is expensive. It shouldn't necessarily be so. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-a-certain-beauty-and-refinement-that-is-often-found-in-our/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Resentment is at work when one so hates somebody for his more favorable circumstances that one is prepared to bear heavy losses if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/resentment-is-at-work-when-one-so-hates-somebody-for-his-more/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [Occupy Wall Street is meant more as a way of life that spreads through contagion, creates as many questions as it answers, aims to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/occupy-wall-street-is-meant-more-as-a-way-of-life-that-spreads/)

[Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/)

> [People would do well to ask themselves how many of their ambitions and aspirations derive from the type of economic system they inhabit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/people-would-do-well-to-ask-themselves-how-many-of-their-ambitions/)

[Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/)

> [We have power... Our power isn’t in a political system, or a religious system, or in an economic system, or in a military system;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/we-have-power-our-power-isn-t-in-a-political-system-or-a-religious/)

[John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/)

> [“capitalism is an economic system in which individuals or corporate groups have the right to make private decisions and to acquire private property and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/capitalism-is-an-economic-system-in-which-individuals-or-corporate/)

[Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/)

[Browse all 380 Economic system quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-system/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We therefore conclude that no philosophy and no system of life produced by human thought can have the characteristic of \"comprehensiveness.\" At most, it can cover a segment of human life and can be valid for a temporary period. Because of its limited scope, it is always deficient in many respects, and because of its temporariness it is bound to cause problems that require modifications and changes in the original philosophy or system of life. Peoples and nations basing their social, political, and economic systems on human philosophies are forever confronted with contradictions and \"dialectics.\" The history of European peoples is an example of such a process.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sayyid Qutb"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy-and-no-system-of-life/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Economic system"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy-and-no-system-of-life/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/sayyid-qutb-40627_economic-system_we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy_616577.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We therefore conclude that no philosophy and no system of life produced by human thought can have the…” — Sayyid Qutb",
                "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": "Sayyid Qutb",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sayyid-qutb/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We therefore conclude that no philosophy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy-and-no-system-of-life/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sayyid-qutb/we-therefore-conclude-that-no-philosophy-and-no-system-of-life/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
