--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What can you conceive more silly and…" description: "\"What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly?\" — William Law" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png" --- # What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to… ![“What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly?” quote by William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png) > “What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly?” [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing impossible dreams like human flight is absurd, highlighting human tendency to overreach. **In simple terms:** Flying is a silly, extravagant idea. Key Takeaway Recognize realistic limits. Themes ambition folly human nature limitations Mood cautious inquisitive Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - scientific inquiry - risk assessment - personal goal setting Key Concepts overreach impossible aspirations critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When is overreaching justified? - What boundaries should we test? A Different Perspective Innovation sometimes requires daring. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceive Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceive-silly-3924748/) [Extravagant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagant/) [Extravagant Suppose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagant-suppose-3924749/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Racking Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racking-brains-3460139/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Silly Extravagant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly-extravagant-3924747/) ## Related quotes > [What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-extravagant-than-to-suppose-a/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [I am racking my brains to find out why he left without saying goodby to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-braun/i-am-racking-my-brains-to-find-out-why-he-left-without-saying-goodby/) [Eva Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-braun/) > [Little do such men know the toil, the pains, the daily, nightly racking of the brains, to range the thoughts, the matter to digest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/little-do-such-men-know-the-toil-the-pains-the-daily-nightly-racking/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [I cap myself when I shop; I don't like to spend extravagant amounts on clothes. But, I do get lent clothes for events, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-cap-myself-when-i-shop-i-don-t-like-to-spend-extravagant-amounts-on/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Islands are havens and breeding grounds for the unique and anomalous. They are natural laboratories of extravagant evolutionary experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/islands-are-havens-and-breeding-grounds-for-the-unique-and-anomalous/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) > [New York... Babylon-on-the-Hudson, sinful, extravagant, full of the nervous hilarity of the doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-beebe/new-york-babylon-on-the-hudson-sinful-extravagant-full-of-the-nervous/) [Lucius Beebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-beebe/) > [I always say you can never be extravagant with beauty. Beauty is God made real. Beauty is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/i-always-say-you-can-never-be-extravagant-with-beauty-beauty-is-god/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [ Her \[Mary's\] motherhood extends beyond view. In the will of the Son, she becomes at once mother and maid: sheltering him, but sheltered in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-von-speyr/her-mary-s-motherhood-extends-beyond-view-in-the-will-of-the-son-she/) [Adrienne von Speyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-von-speyr/) > [God's extravagant generosity toward us compels us to be extravagantly generous toward others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/god-s-extravagant-generosity-toward-us-compels-us-to-be-extravagantly/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/rarity-gives-a-charm-so-early-fruits-and-winter-roses-are-the-most/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [People say, 'Oh, to be the daughter of Picasso!' But it's not as extravagant as it seems. He was very special, very vibrant, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-picasso/people-say-oh-to-be-the-daughter-of-picasso-but-it-s-not-as/) [Paloma Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-picasso/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [When you think that most of us are doomed by divine grace to roast in hell, to say nothing of mortgages and hail and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/when-you-think-that-most-of-us-are-doomed-by-divine-grace-to-roast-in/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [I read the most extravagant things about people who suffer and depress because of things written about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/i-read-the-most-extravagant-things-about-people-who-suffer-and/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More by William Law > [The will is that which has all power; it makes heaven and it makes hell: for there is no hell but where the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-will-is-that-which-has-all-power-it-makes-heaven-and-it-makes/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [No education can be of true advantage to young women but that which trains them up in humble industry, in great plainness of living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/no-education-can-be-of-true-advantage-to-young-women-but-that-which/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/be-intent-upon-the-perfection-of-the-present-day/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [“Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/would-you-know-who-is-the-greatest-saint-in-the-world-it-is-not-he/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and the same corruption.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdom-as-much-as-from-his-own/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Be intent on the perfection of the present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/be-intent-on-the-perfection-of-the-present-day/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Hell is nothing else but nature departed or excluded from the beam of divine light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/hell-is-nothing-else-but-nature-departed-or-excluded-from-the-beam-of/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-you-attempt-to-talk-with-a-dying-man-about-sports-or-business-he/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [What could begin to deny self, if there were not something in man different from self?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-could-begin-to-deny-self-if-there-were-not-something-in-man/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [From morning to night keep Jesus in thy heart, long for nothing, desire nothing, hope for nothing but to have all that is within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/from-morning-to-night-keep-jesus-in-thy-heart-long-for-nothing-desire/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [The Prophet had made dishonorable proposals to my wife... under cover of his asserted 'Revelation.'... Smith told his wife Jane the Lord had commanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-prophet-had-made-dishonorable-proposals-to-my-wife-under-cover-of/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [This is the state of all creatures, whether men or angels; as they make not themselves, so they enjoy nothing from themselves; if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/this-is-the-state-of-all-creatures-whether-men-or-angels-as-they-make/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [You have no questions to ask of any body, no new way that you need inquire after; no oracle that you need to consult;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/you-have-no-questions-to-ask-of-any-body-no-new-way-that-you-need/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [If someone is leaving you behind, and you are becoming jealous and embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-someone-is-leaving-you-behind-and-you-are-becoming-jealous-and/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-greatest-saint-in-the-world-is-not-he-who-prays-most-or-fasts/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) [Explore all 81 William Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) ## More Extravagant quotes > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I read the most extravagant things about people who suffer and depress because of things written about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/i-read-the-most-extravagant-things-about-people-who-suffer-and/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [When you think that most of us are doomed by divine grace to roast in hell, to say nothing of mortgages and hail and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/when-you-think-that-most-of-us-are-doomed-by-divine-grace-to-roast-in/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [People say, 'Oh, to be the daughter of Picasso!' But it's not as extravagant as it seems. He was very special, very vibrant, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-picasso/people-say-oh-to-be-the-daughter-of-picasso-but-it-s-not-as/) [Paloma Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-picasso/) > [Rarity gives a charm; so early fruits and winter roses are the most prized; and coyness sets off an extravagant mistress, while the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/rarity-gives-a-charm-so-early-fruits-and-winter-roses-are-the-most/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [God's extravagant generosity toward us compels us to be extravagantly generous toward others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/god-s-extravagant-generosity-toward-us-compels-us-to-be-extravagantly/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [ Her \[Mary's\] motherhood extends beyond view. In the will of the Son, she becomes at once mother and maid: sheltering him, but sheltered in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-von-speyr/her-mary-s-motherhood-extends-beyond-view-in-the-will-of-the-son-she/) [Adrienne von Speyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-von-speyr/) > [I always say you can never be extravagant with beauty. Beauty is God made real. Beauty is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/i-always-say-you-can-never-be-extravagant-with-beauty-beauty-is-god/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [New York... Babylon-on-the-Hudson, sinful, extravagant, full of the nervous hilarity of the doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-beebe/new-york-babylon-on-the-hudson-sinful-extravagant-full-of-the-nervous/) [Lucius Beebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-beebe/) > [Islands are havens and breeding grounds for the unique and anomalous. They are natural laboratories of extravagant evolutionary experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/islands-are-havens-and-breeding-grounds-for-the-unique-and-anomalous/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) > [I cap myself when I shop; I don't like to spend extravagant amounts on clothes. But, I do get lent clothes for events, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-cap-myself-when-i-shop-i-don-t-like-to-spend-extravagant-amounts-on/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I don't like giving a gift just to cross the person off my list. They don't have to be extravagant or expensive things, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-facinelli/i-don-t-like-giving-a-gift-just-to-cross-the-person-off-my-list-they/) [Peter Facinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-facinelli/) > [Tis no extravagant arithmetic to say, that for every ten jokes, thou hast got an hundred enemies; and till thou hast gone on, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/tis-no-extravagant-arithmetic-to-say-that-for-every-ten-jokes-thou/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [I love giving gifts and I love receiving them. I really like giving little kids extravagant gifts. You see their little faces light up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-gershon/i-love-giving-gifts-and-i-love-receiving-them-i-really-like-giving/) [Gina Gershon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-gershon/) [Browse all 216 Extravagant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Law" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-extravagant-than-to-suppose-a-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Extravagant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-extravagant-than-to-suppose-a-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c4/william-law-8390_extravagant_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_2870623.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying…” — William Law", "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": "William Law", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What can you conceive more silly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-extravagant-than-to-suppose-a-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-extravagant-than-to-suppose-a-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 } } ] } ```