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Nature Quote by Thomas Carlyle

“This green flowery rock-built earth, the trees, the mountains, rivers, many-sounding seas;—that great deep sea of azure that swims overhead; the winds sweeping through it; the black cloud fashioning itself together, now pouring out fire, now hail and rain; what is it? Ay, what? At bottom we do not…” quote by Thomas Carlyle
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““This green flowery rock-built earth, the trees, the mountains, rivers, many-sounding seas;—that great deep sea of azure that swims overhead; the winds sweeping through it; the black cloud fashioning itself together, now pouring out fire, now hail and rain; what is it? Ay, what? At bottom we do not yet know; we can never know at all. It is not by our superior insight that we escape the difficulty; it is by our superior levity, our inattention, our want of insight. It is by not thinking that we cease to wonder at it. Hardened round us, encasing wholly every notion we form, is a wrappage of traditions, hearsays, mere words. We call that fire of the black thunder-cloud "electricity," and lecture learnedly about it, and grind the like of it out of glass and silk: but what is it? What made it? Whence comes it? Whither goes it? Science has done much for us; but it is a poor science that would hide from us the great deep sacred infinitude of Nescience, whither we can never penetrate, on which all science swims as a mere superficial film. This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle; wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it.””

Thomas Carlyle

About This Quote

Source Book: Sartor Resartus by Thomas Carlyle, 1833

The passage marvels at the universe’s boundless mystery, suggesting that true wonder arises from humility and the limits of our knowledge rather than scientific mastery.

In simple terms: The world is a miracle beyond full understanding.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humility and curiosity.

Themes

wonder humility science mystery knowledge

Mood

awe reflective inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • contemplating nature
  • scientific research
  • spiritual reflection
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

philosophy metaphysics epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does acknowledging ignorance expand insight?
  • What role does levity play in discovery?
A Different Perspective

Science can only skim the surface of reality’s depth.

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