--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot know the whole truth, which…" description: "\"We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true.\" — Wendell Berry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg" --- # We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God… ![“We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true.” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg) > “We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true.” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We can’t know all truth, but we must pursue what is true. **In simple terms:** Seek truth despite its limits. Key Takeaway Pursue truth diligently. Themes truth humility faith knowledge inquiry Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - journalism - scientific research - personal reflection - theological study Key Concepts epistemology spirituality ethical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you currently seeking? - How do you handle uncertainty? A Different Perspective Truth may be partial and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God Task](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-task-3033189/) [Know Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-truth/) [Seek Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-know-765255/) [Tasks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Belongs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-belongs-892653/) ## Related quotes > [“We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-belongs-to-god-alone-but-our/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-belongs-to-god-alone-but-our-3/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/as-soon-as-we-abandon-ourselves-to-god-and-do-the-task-he-has-placed/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Whatever happened in the world was a decree from God. A task to be completed. Any crying or joy just got in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/whatever-happened-in-the-world-was-a-decree-from-god-a-task-to-be/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Every child is a thought in the mind of God, and our task is to recognize this thought and help it toward completion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eberhard-arnold/every-child-is-a-thought-in-the-mind-of-god-and-our-task-is-to/) [Eberhard Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eberhard-arnold/) > [“Remember that, as George Whitefield said, man is immortal till his work is done (though God alone defines the work), and get on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-that-as-george-whitefield-said-man-is-immortal-till-his-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If absolute truth belongs to anyone in this world, it certainly does not belong to the man or party that claims to possess it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-absolute-truth-belongs-to-anyone-in-this-world-it-certainly-does/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [She believes that Tobias belongs to her now. She doesn't know the truth, that he belongs to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/she-believes-that-tobias-belongs-to-her-now-she-doesn-t-know-the/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [We are born to inquire after truth; it belongs to a greater power to possess it. It is not, as Democritus said, hid in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-are-born-to-inquire-after-truth-it-belongs-to-a-greater-power-to/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The truth belongs to those who seek it, not to those who claim to own it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/the-truth-belongs-to-those-who-seek-it-not-to-those-who-claim-to-own/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [There is time, and there is beyond time. History belongs to time, but truth belongs to what is beyond time. In writing of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/there-is-time-and-there-is-beyond-time-history-belongs-to-time-but/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [We are born to inquire into truth; it belongs to a greater to possess it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-are-born-to-inquire-into-truth-it-belongs-to-a-greater-to-possess/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Absolute truth belongs to Thee alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/absolute-truth-belongs-to-thee-alone/) [Gotthold Ephraim Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotthold-ephraim-lessing/) > [“Seek not to know the answer, rather try to understand the question??”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-thornton/seek-not-to-know-the-answer-rather-try-to-understand-the-question/) [Nathaniel Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-thornton/) > [“Seek not to know where the path may lead, only to keep your feet upon it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mcphail/seek-not-to-know-where-the-path-may-lead-only-to-keep-your-feet-upon/) [Melissa McPhail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mcphail/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The two families, sundered in the ruin of a friendship, were united again first in new friendship and then in mariage. My grandfather made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-two-families-sundered-in-the-ruin-of-a-friendship-were-united/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I knew a man who, in the age of chain-saws, went right on cutting his wood with a handsaw and an axe. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Tasks quotes > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/) [Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [How difficult the task to quench the fire and the pride of private ambition, and to sacrifice ourselves and all our hopes and expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/how-difficult-the-task-to-quench-the-fire-and-the-pride-of-private/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/just-begin-and-the-mind-grows-heated-continue-and-the-task-will-be/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The supreme task is to organize and unite people so that their anger becomes a transforming force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-supreme-task-is-to-organize-and-unite-people-so-that-their-anger/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [By God, I cannot flatter, I do defy The tongues of soothers! but a braver place In my heart's love hath no man than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/by-god-i-cannot-flatter-i-do-defy-the-tongues-of-soothers-but-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) [Browse all 2,882 Tasks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tasks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Wendell Berry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-belongs-to-god-alone-but-our-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Tasks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-belongs-to-god-alone-but-our-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/wendell-berry-236_tasks_we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-bel_1359578.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know…” — Wendell Berry", "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": "Wendell Berry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We cannot know the whole truth,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-belongs-to-god-alone-but-our-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/we-cannot-know-the-whole-truth-which-belongs-to-god-alone-but-our-2/#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 } } ] } ```