---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The four cardinal points are three: South…"
description: "\"The four cardinal points are three: South and North.\" — Vicente Huidobro"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png"
---

#  The four cardinal points are three: South and North.

![“The four cardinal points are three: South and North.” quote by Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png)

> “The four cardinal points are three: South and North.”

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

## About This Quote

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

He paradoxically reduces four directions to three, implying that South and North encompass all.

**In simple terms:** South and North represent all directions.

Key Takeaway

Consider simplicity in complexity.

Themes

paradox direction minimalism

Mood

thoughtful enigmatic

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- navigation
- creative writing
- philosophical debate

Key Concepts

poetry philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What does reducing complexity achieve?
- Is this a poetic device or logical claim?

A Different Perspective

May ignore East and West significance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north/)

## Related quotes

> [The cardinal points are a direct reference to the astrological colures. The Cardinals surround the Pope as the cardinal points surround the sun. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tsarion/the-cardinal-points-are-a-direct-reference-to-the-astrological/)

[Michael Tsarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tsarion/)

> [Minsara Kanavu' was a hit in the South, but not in the North.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/minsara-kanavu-was-a-hit-in-the-south-but-not-in-the-north/)

[Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/)

> [“Manchester is in the south of the north of England. Its spirit has a contrariness in it -- a south and north bound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/manchester-is-in-the-south-of-the-north-of-england-its-spirit-has-a/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [...south of Somewhere and north of Nowhere...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/south-of-somewhere-and-north-of-nowhere/)

[Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/)

> [Mars is much closer to the characteristics of Earth. It has a fall, winter, summer and spring. North Pole, South Pole, mountains and lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/mars-is-much-closer-to-the-characteristics-of-earth-it-has-a-fall/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [I grew up in the age of discount air fare, and for me, the act of joining a culture was a great way about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/i-grew-up-in-the-age-of-discount-air-fare-and-for-me-the-act-of/)

[Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/)

> [There's a food revolution going on throughout the country. And it doesn't matter if you're down south, up north in Maine, if you're out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/there-s-a-food-revolution-going-on-throughout-the-country-and-it/)

[Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/)

> [Virginians were no more angels or philanthropists than people to the north or to the south of them. They were moved by their affections,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sergeant-wise/virginians-were-no-more-angels-or-philanthropists-than-people-to-the/)

[John Sergeant Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sergeant-wise/)

> [He was my North, my South, my East and West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-3/he-was-my-north-my-south-my-east-and-west/)

[W H Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-3/)

> [Eudora Welty's 'A Curtain of Green' had an enormous effect on me. But my early attempts to graft stories from the Deep South onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/eudora-welty-s-a-curtain-of-green-had-an-enormous-effect-on-me-but-my/)

[Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/)

> [Back in the mid-18th century, in 1745-1747, Ossetia was the first to become part of the Russian Empire. At that time, it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/back-in-the-mid-18th-century-in-1745-1747-ossetia-was-the-first-to/)

[Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/)

> [In the South they don't mind how close I get, so long as I don't get too big. In the North they don't mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/in-the-south-they-don-t-mind-how-close-i-get-so-long-as-i-don-t-get/)

[Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/)

> [I grew up in Orange County, without a team. I never affiliated myself with the Chargers, south of me, or the Raiders, north of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-grew-up-in-orange-county-without-a-team-i-never-affiliated-myself/)

[Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/)

> [The cardinal rule for hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe beauty pageants is to expect the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/the-cardinal-rule-for-hosting-the-miss-usa-and-miss-universe-beauty/)

[Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/)

> [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/)

[Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/)

## More by Vicente Huidobro

> [“Eiffel Tower" To Robert Delaunay Eiffel Tower Guitar of the sky Your wireless telegraphy Attracts words As a rosebush the bees During the night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/eiffel-tower-to-robert-delaunay-eiffel-tower-guitar-of-the-sky-your/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“Midnight" The hours glide Like drops of water on a window pane Midnight silence Fear unrolls in the air And the wind hides at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/midnight-the-hours-glide-like-drops-of-water-on-a-window-pane/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“Morning" SUN That awakens Paris The highest poplar on the bank On The Eiffel Tower A tricolored cock Sings to the flapping of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/morning-sun-that-awakens-paris-the-highest-poplar-on-the-bank-on-the/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“La poesía soy yo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/la-poes-a-soy-yo/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“New Song" For You, Manuelita Inside the Horizon SOMEONE WAS SINGING The voice Is not known WHERE DOES IT COME FROM Among the branches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/new-song-for-you-manuelita-inside-the-horizon-someone-was-singing-the/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“Los verdaderos poemas son incendios.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/los-verdaderos-poemas-son-incendios/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“El adjetivo, cuando no da vida, mata.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/el-adjetivo-cuando-no-da-vida-mata/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“Y mientras que el ensueño pertenece a todo el mundo, el delirio sólo pertenece a los poetas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/y-mientras-que-el-ensue-o-pertenece-a-todo-el-mundo-el-delirio-s-lo/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

> [“Si yo no hiciera al menos una locura por año, me volvería loco”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/si-yo-no-hiciera-al-menos-una-locura-por-a-o-me-volver-a-loco/)

[Vicente Huidobro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

[Explore all 10 Vicente Huidobro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/)

## More Cardinals quotes

> [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/)

[Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/)

> [The cardinal rule for hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe beauty pageants is to expect the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/the-cardinal-rule-for-hosting-the-miss-usa-and-miss-universe-beauty/)

[Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/)

> [A rhododendron bud lavender-tipped. Soon a glory of blooms to clash with the cardinals and gladden the hummingbirds!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-beard/a-rhododendron-bud-lavender-tipped-soon-a-glory-of-blooms-to-clash/)

[Dave Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-beard/)

> [These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor; This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/these-cardinals-trifle-with-me-i-abhor-this-dilatory-sloth-and-tricks/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The first thing I would like to tell you about death is that there is no bigger lie than death. And yet, death appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-first-thing-i-would-like-to-tell-you-about-death-is-that-there-is/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I was very surprised when I heard that I had been chosen to receive the James Cardinal Gibbons Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-neville/i-was-very-surprised-when-i-heard-that-i-had-been-chosen-to-receive/)

[Aaron Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-neville/)

> [If self is a location, so is love: Bearings taken, markings, cardinal points, Options, obstinacies, dug heels, and distance, Here and there and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/if-self-is-a-location-so-is-love-bearings-taken-markings-cardinal/)

[Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/)

> [You never know what's going to happen the rest of the way. You can't predict. You don't know what Montreal is going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hernandez/you-never-know-what-s-going-to-happen-the-rest-of-the-way-you-can-t/)

[Keith Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-hernandez/)

> [The Jackdaw sat in the Cardinal's chair! Bishop and Abbot and Prior were there, Many a monk and many a friar, Many a knight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harris-barham/the-jackdaw-sat-in-the-cardinal-s-chair-bishop-and-abbot-and-prior/)

[Richard Harris Barham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harris-barham/)

> [We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-fought-a-military-war-our-opponents-fought-a-political-one-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In life and business, there are two cardinal sins. The first is to act precipitously without thought and the second is to not act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-icahn/in-life-and-business-there-are-two-cardinal-sins-the-first-is-to-act/)

[Carl Icahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-icahn/)

> [There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-not-more-than-five-musical-notes-yet-the-combinations-of/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [Buddhism’s cardinal ethical principle is to avoid causing harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-fronsdal/buddhism-s-cardinal-ethical-principle-is-to-avoid-causing-harm/)

[Gil Fronsdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-fronsdal/)

> [Here's what I love: when a great writer turns me into a Jew from Chicago, a lesbian out of South Carolina, or a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/here-s-what-i-love-when-a-great-writer-turns-me-into-a-jew-from/)

[Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/)

> [I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-made-up-my-mind-long-ago-to-follow-one-cardinal-rule-in-all-my/)

[Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/)

Browse all 230 Cardinals quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The four cardinal points are three: South and North.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Vicente Huidobro"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south-and-north/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cardinals"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south-and-north/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/vicente-huidobro-21095_cardinals_the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south_360159.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The four cardinal points are three: South and North.” — Vicente Huidobro",
                "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": "Vicente Huidobro",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-huidobro/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The four cardinal points are three:...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south-and-north/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-huidobro/the-four-cardinal-points-are-three-south-and-north/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
