--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a contradiction in terms and ideas…" description: "\"“It is a contradiction in terms and ideas, to call anything a revelation that comes to us at second-hand, either verbally or in writing. Revelation is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/thomas-paine-267_contradiction_it-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-and-ideas_756232.png" --- # It is a contradiction in terms and ideas, to call anything… ![“It is a contradiction in terms and ideas, to call anything a revelation that comes to us at second-hand, either verbally or in writing. Revelation is necessarily limited to the first communication; after this, it is only an account of something which that person says was a revelation made to him…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/thomas-paine-267_contradiction_it-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-and-ideas_756232.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/thomas-paine-267_contradiction_it-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-and-ideas_756232.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/thomas-paine-267_contradiction_it-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-and-ideas_756232.png) > ““It is a contradiction in terms and ideas, to call anything a revelation that comes to us at second-hand, either verbally or in writing. Revelation is necessarily limited to the first communication; after this, it is only an account of something which that person says was a revelation made to him; and though he may find himself obliged to believe it, it cannot be incumbent on me to believe it in the same manner; for it was not a revelation made to me , and I have only his word for it that it was made to him.”” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revelations are personal, direct experiences; second‑hand reports are merely accounts, not true revelations. **In simple terms:** Only first‑hand experiences count as revelations. Key Takeaway Seek direct experience, not just reports. Themes truth knowledge skepticism Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - religious claims - historical analysis - personal testimony Key Concepts epistemology personal experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a revelation you haven't experienced? - Can indirect accounts ever be trusted? A Different Perspective Second‑hand accounts may still hold value for learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation/) [Revelation Necessarily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation-necessarily-1094693/) [Revelation Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation-word-1203645/) [Says Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-revelation-4701445/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-revelation-5501900/) ## Related quotes > [Revelation is necessarily limited to the first communication- after that it is only an account of something which that person says was a revelation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/revelation-is-necessarily-limited-to-the-first-communication-after/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Revelation when applied to religion, means something communicated immediately from God to man. It is revelation to the first person only, and hearsay to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/revelation-when-applied-to-religion-means-something-communicated/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The books the Holy Spirit is writing are living, and every soul a volume in which the divine author makes a true revelation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pierre-de-caussade/the-books-the-holy-spirit-is-writing-are-living-and-every-soul-a/) [Jean-Pierre de Caussade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pierre-de-caussade/) > [“Each of those churches shows certain books, which they call revelation, or the Word of God. The Jews say that their Word of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/each-of-those-churches-shows-certain-books-which-they-call-revelation/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [A divine revelation must necessarily be intolerant of contradiction; it must repudiate all improvement in itself, and view with disdain that arising from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-draper/a-divine-revelation-must-necessarily-be-intolerant-of-contradiction/) [John William Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-draper/) > [“Learning and receiving revelation must necessarily include both the heart and the mind, or thoughts, and feelings. Intellect alone cannot produce a testimony. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-dew/learning-and-receiving-revelation-must-necessarily-include-both-the/) [Sheri Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-dew/) > [The most horrible wickedness and cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have troubled the human race began with this thing called revelation, or revealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-most-horrible-wickedness-and-cruelties-and-the-greatest-miseries/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The first chapter of Matthew begins with giving a genealogy of Jesus Christ; and in the third chapter of Luke there is also given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-first-chapter-of-matthew-begins-with-giving-a-genealogy-of-jesus/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [ “As to the fragments of morality that are irregularly and thinly scattered in those books \[the Bible\], they make no part of this pretended… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/as-to-the-fragments-of-morality-that-are-irregularly-and-thinly/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries, that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-most-detestable-wickedness-the-most-horrid-cruelties-and-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [It is, I believe, impossible to find in any story upon record so many and such glaring absurdities, contradictions, and falsehoods, as are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-i-believe-impossible-to-find-in-any-story-upon-record-so-many/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [...the Bible is such a book of lies and contradictions there is no knowing which part to believe or whether any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-bible-is-such-a-book-of-lies-and-contradictions-there-is-no/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Mine would be, "We will stand together, he and I. One in victory, one in shame. Only then can I truly own the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mine-would-be-we-will-stand-together-he-and-i-one-in-victory-one-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Contradiction quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-almost-a-contradiction-in-terms-it-means-a-strong-desire/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Contradictions in human character are one of its most consistent notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/contradictions-in-human-character-are-one-of-its-most-consistent-notes/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“The tiny features below, taken together with the gentle mass of Montblanc towering above them, the Vanoise glacier almost invisible in the shimmering distance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald-2/the-tiny-features-below-taken-together-with-the-gentle-mass-of/) [W.G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald-2/) > [I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/i-m-a-skeptic-not-because-i-do-not-want-to-believe-but-because-i-want/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [There are evidently limits to the achievements of science; and there are irresolvable contradictions both between prosperity and virtue, and between happiness and ''the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/there-are-evidently-limits-to-the-achievements-of-science-and-there/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [To exist (in mathematics), said Henri Poincaré, is to be free from contradiction. But mere existence does not guarantee survival. To survive in mathematics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kac/to-exist-in-mathematics-said-henri-poincar-is-to-be-free-from/) [Mark Kac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kac/) > [“In these creations, life and symbolic value are not in contradiction: they intensify each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-these-creations-life-and-symbolic-value-are-not-in-contradiction/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I have never agreed with my other self wholly. The truth of the matter seems to lie between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-have-never-agreed-with-my-other-self-wholly-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“A truth is not necessary, because we negatively are not able to conceive the actual existence of the opposite thereof;but a truth is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-dabney/a-truth-is-not-necessary-because-we-negatively-are-not-able-to/) [R.L. Dabney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-dabney/) > [The pictures that were coming from Vietnam were showing us what was really happening on the ground level. It was in contradiction to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/the-pictures-that-were-coming-from-vietnam-were-showing-us-what-was/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. 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