--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought that as I had failed in the…" description: "\"“I thought that as I had failed in the contemplation of true existence, I ought to be careful that I did not lose the eye of my soul; as people may inj..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/socrates-405_life_i-thought-that-as-i-had-failed-in-the-co_993520.jpg" --- # I thought that as I had failed in the contemplation of… ![“I thought that as I had failed in the contemplation of true existence, I ought to be careful that I did not lose the eye of my soul; as people may injure their bodily eye by observing and gazing on the sun during an eclipse, unless they take the precaution of looking at the image reflected in the…” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/socrates-405_life_i-thought-that-as-i-had-failed-in-the-co_993520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/socrates-405_life_i-thought-that-as-i-had-failed-in-the-co_993520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/socrates-405_life_i-thought-that-as-i-had-failed-in-the-co_993520.jpg) > ““I thought that as I had failed in the contemplation of true existence, I ought to be careful that I did not lose the eye of my soul; as people may injure their bodily eye by observing and gazing on the sun during an eclipse, unless they take the precaution of looking at the image reflected in the water, or in some similar medium. ...I was afraid that my soul might be blinded altogether if I looked at things with my eyes or tried by the help of my senses to apprehend them. And I thought that I had better had recourse to ideas, and seek in them truth in existence. I dare to say that the simile is not perfect--for I am far from admitting that he who contemplates existence through the medium of ideas, sees them only "through a glass darkly," any more than he who sees them in their working and effects.”” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that relying solely on sensory perception can blind the soul, urging the pursuit of truth through ideas. **In simple terms:** Only using the senses can mislead; seek truth with reason. Key Takeaway Prioritize thoughtful reflection over mere observation. Themes philosophy knowledge perception spirituality Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - academic study - personal meditation - ethical decision making - creative problem solving Key Concepts epistemology metaphysics inner sight Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust your senses or ideas more? - How can you integrate both for clearer insight? A Different Perspective Sensory experience still offers valuable data; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contemplates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplates-370783/) [Contemplates Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplates-existence-2050227/) [Contemplation True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation-true-1448063/) [Failed Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed-contemplation-2050226/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Thought Failed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-failed-514583/) ## Related quotes > [Contemplation does not ignore the 'historical Gethsemane', does not ignore the mystery of evil, guilt and its bloody atonement. 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He can guess, but he won't ever know, not really.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/he-can-t-know-what-it-was-like-not-the-first-time-not-the-last-he-can/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“When he woke up in the hospital, dry, and saw Sylvie on a chair next to him, his first thought was that he'd failed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-napolitano/when-he-woke-up-in-the-hospital-dry-and-saw-sylvie-on-a-chair-next-to/) [Ann Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-napolitano/) > [“Thought failed him, and he returned to realities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/thought-failed-him-and-he-returned-to-realities/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“I totally thought I’d failed again, but the instructor was like, ‘Your driving is unpleasant, but it isn’t technically unsafe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-totally-thought-i-d-failed-again-but-the-instructor-was-like-your/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“While getting a haircut, I thought about my failed marriage. 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If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/falling-down-is-not-a-failure-failure-comes-when-you-stay-where-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I only know, I know nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-only-know-i-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-cannot-teach-anybody-anything-i-can-only-make-them-think/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... 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