Blow Quote by William H. Gass
“Knowing has two poles, and they are always poles apart: carnal knowing, the laying on of hands, the hanging of the fact by head or heels, the measurement of mass and motion, the calibration of brutal blows, the counting of supplies; and spiritual knowing, invisibly felt by the inside self, who is but a fought-over field of distraction, a stage where we recite the monotonous monologue that is our life, a knowing governed by internal tides, by intimations, motives, resolutions, by temptations, secrecy, shame, and pride.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Knowing” in The Tunnel, 1995
The passage contrasts two kinds of knowledge: empirical, physical understanding of the world, and inner, spiritual insight shaped by emotions, motives, and inner conflicts.
In simple terms: There are external and internal ways of knowing.
Key Takeaway
Balance both empirical and inner knowledge.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
contemplative
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- self‑reflection
- education
- mindfulness
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
dualism
subjectivity
embodiment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we integrate both poles of knowledge?
- What practices nurture spiritual insight?
A Different Perspective
Spiritual knowing is harder to articulate or measure.
![“If I want to spend the rest of my life reading one day's output of information, which is about what it would take, OK fine. But I personally prefer calibration from an aggregator or newspaper, where the No. 1 story is one they consider important, [and] they're usually right.” quote by Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/17f/harold-evans-15687_calibration_if-i-want-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-r_193195.jpg)
