--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only when Eternity takes Time by the…" description: "\"Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when infinity weds the finite's thought, Can man be free from himself and live with God.\" — Sri Aurobindo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png" --- # Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when… ![“Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when infinity weds the finite's thought, Can man be free from himself and live with God.” quote by Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png) > “Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when infinity weds the finite's thought, Can man be free from himself and live with God.” [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poetically links eternity and time, suggesting that when the infinite embraces the finite, humanity can achieve freedom and divine connection. **In simple terms:** Infinite embraces finite, freeing humanity. Key Takeaway Embrace the divine within. Themes spirituality freedom divinity Mood hopeful inspired Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - philosophical study - artistic expression - personal growth Key Concepts metaphysics existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect daily life? - What practices foster this unity? A Different Perspective Abstract concepts may feel inaccessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“What matters is entertainment. Eternity takes forever. The infinite expanse of time just does not know when to quit. The dead fear boredom the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/what-matters-is-entertainment-eternity-takes-forever-the-infinite/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [You’ll never get rid of me, either… No matter which side of the grave we’re on. I’ll haunt you, chase you all around eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/you-ll-never-get-rid-of-me-either-no-matter-which-side-of-the-grave/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“No matter which side of the grave we’re on. I’ll haunt you, chase you all around eternity, whatever it takes, but it’s you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/no-matter-which-side-of-the-grave-we-re-on-i-ll-haunt-you-chase-you/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“When you know that something is finite, it makes it that much more meaningful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/when-you-know-that-something-is-finite-it-makes-it-that-much-more/) [Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/) > [Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in eternal awareness or pure consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/meditation-is-the-dissolution-of-thoughts-in-eternal-awareness-or/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [The potential infinite means nothing other than an undetermined, variable quantity, always remaining finite, which has to assume values that either become smaller than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-cantor/the-potential-infinite-means-nothing-other-than-an-undetermined/) [Georg Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-cantor/) > [“The Being is finite and infinite. It is finite while contained within itself. When it is within itself as One, it becomes its opposite—the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-being-is-finite-and-infinite-it-is-finite-while-contained-within/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [The greatest miracle is the miracle of wakefulness, to awaken from the dream of life and to see infinity everywhere, even in the finite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-greatest-miracle-is-the-miracle-of-wakefulness-to-awaken-from-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“POPULATION: None. It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/population-none-it-is-known-that-there-are-an-infinite-number-of/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [There is a solitude of space. A solitude of sea. A solitude of death, but these societies shall be compared with that profounder site-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-solitude-of-space-a-solitude-of-sea-a-solitude-of-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Finite mind cannot comprehend infinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-seed/finite-mind-cannot-comprehend-infinity/) [Jeremiah Seed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-seed/) > [God created infinity, and man, unable to understand infinity, had to invent finite sets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/god-created-infinity-and-man-unable-to-understand-infinity-had-to/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [Infinities and indivisibles transcend our finite understanding, the former on account of their magnitude, the latter because of their smallness; Imagine what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/infinities-and-indivisibles-transcend-our-finite-understanding-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [The first attempt at a response: there must have been a fall, a decline, and the road to salvation can only be the return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-first-attempt-at-a-response-there-must-have-been-a-fall-a-decline/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Feeling and experiencing infinity within this finite body, living timelessness within the time span of life - this is what you are here for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/feeling-and-experiencing-infinity-within-this-finite-body-living/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) ## More by Sri Aurobindo > [“Across the threshold’s sleep she entered in And found herself amid great figures of gods Conscious in stone and living without breath, Watching with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/across-the-threshold-s-sleep-she-entered-in-and-found-herself-amid/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Perfect health, sincerity, honesty, straightforwardness, courage, disinterestedness, unselfishness, patience, endurance, perseverance, peace, calm, self control are all things that are taught infinitely better by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/perfect-health-sincerity-honesty-straightforwardness-courage/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Hinduism... gave itself no name, because it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/hinduism-gave-itself-no-name-because-it-set-itself-no-sectarian/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Do not belong to the past dawns,but to the noons of future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/do-not-belong-to-the-past-dawns-but-to-the-noons-of-future/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [There is no greater pride and glory than to be a perfect instrument of the Master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/there-is-no-greater-pride-and-glory-than-to-be-a-perfect-instrument/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Delight is the secret. Learn of pure delight and thou shalt learn of God. What then was the commencement of the whole matter? Existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/delight-is-the-secret-learn-of-pure-delight-and-thou-shalt-learn-of/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [You carry in yourself all the obstacles necessary to make your realization perfect. If you discover a very black hole, a thick shadow, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/you-carry-in-yourself-all-the-obstacles-necessary-to-make-your/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Indian religion has always felt that since the minds, the temperaments and the intellectual affinities of men are unlimited in their variety, a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/indian-religion-has-always-felt-that-since-the-minds-the-temperaments/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [“One who has shaped this world is ever its lord: Our errors are his steps upon the way; He works through the fierce vicissitudes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/one-who-has-shaped-this-world-is-ever-its-lord-our-errors-are-his/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Not in the state of unconsciousness, but in full awareness when the higher Power will descend into and direct us, then only the yogic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/not-in-the-state-of-unconsciousness-but-in-full-awareness-when-the/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [A woman has the greatest opportunity to provide the best outcome for a baby and its potentialities. Not only by having a conscious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/a-woman-has-the-greatest-opportunity-to-provide-the-best-outcome-for/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [They proved to me by convincing reasons that God does not exist; Afterwards I saw God, for he came and embraced me. And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/they-proved-to-me-by-convincing-reasons-that-god-does-not-exist/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [The yogin becomes aware in part of the action of the supramental power organizing the lower vehicle (ādhāra). A part of it remains behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/the-yogin-becomes-aware-in-part-of-the-action-of-the-supramental/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [Spirituality is indeed the master key of the Indian mind; the sense of the infinitive is native to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/spirituality-is-indeed-the-master-key-of-the-indian-mind-the-sense-of/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [A hidden Bliss is at the root of things. A mute Delight regards Time's countless works: To house God's joy in things Space gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/a-hidden-bliss-is-at-the-root-of-things-a-mute-delight-regards-time-s/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) [Explore all 264 Sri Aurobindo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) ## More Eternity quotes > [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Please not yet. Those are the three eternal words. Please not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/please-not-yet-those-are-the-three-eternal-words-please-not-yet/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [I think we all have a core that's ecstatic, that knows and that looks up in wonder. We all know that there are marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-barks/i-think-we-all-have-a-core-that-s-ecstatic-that-knows-and-that-looks/) [Coleman Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-barks/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [What does the future, that half of time, matter to the man who is infatuated with eternity?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/what-does-the-future-that-half-of-time-matter-to-the-man-who-is/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [You may have some friends that come and go, but having a friend like God will last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-tillmon/you-may-have-some-friends-that-come-and-go-but-having-a-friend-like/) [Alyssa Tillmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-tillmon/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Browse all 3,482 Eternity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when infinity weds the finite's thought, Can man be free from himself and live with God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sri Aurobindo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-hand-only-when-infinity-weds-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eternity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-hand-only-when-infinity-weds-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/sri-aurobindo-1257_eternity_only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-han_3023230.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only when Eternity takes Time by the hand, Only when infinity weds the finite's thought, Can man be free…” — Sri Aurobindo", "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": "Sri Aurobindo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only when Eternity takes Time by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-hand-only-when-infinity-weds-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/only-when-eternity-takes-time-by-the-hand-only-when-infinity-weds-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 } } ] } ```