#stand

The true reader must be an extension of the author. He is the higher court that receives the case already prepared by the lower court. The feeling by means of which the author has separated out the materials of his work, during reading separates out again the unformed and the formed aspects of the book—and if the reader were to work through the book according to his own idea, a second reader would refine it still more, with the result that, since the mass that had been worked through would constantly be poured into fresh vessels, the mass would finally become an essential component—a part of the active spirit. Through impartial rereading of his book the author can refine his book himself. With strangers the particular character is usually lost, because the talent of fully entering into another person’s idea is so rare. Often even in the author himself. It is not a sign of superior education and greater powers to justifiably find fault with a book. When receiving new impressions, greater sharpness of mind is quite natural. ↗

— Novalis

#groking #reader #reading-books #understanding #understanding-an-idea

Rather than trying to master nature we should start with the basics of trying to understand nature, cooperate with nature. ↗

— Bryant McGill

#knowing #understanding-the-nature-of-god #nature

I have only to contemplate myself; man comes from nothing, passes through time, and disappears forever in the bosom of God. He is seen but for a moment wandering on the verge of two abysses, and then is lost. If man were wholly ignorant of himself he would have no poetry in him, for one cannot describe what one does not conceive. If he saw himself clearly, his imagination would remain idle and would have nothing to add to the picture. But the nature of man is sufficiently revealed for him to know something of himself and sufficiently veiled to leave much impenetrable darkness, a darkness in which he ever gropes, forever in vain, trying to understand himself. ↗

— Alexis de Tocqueville

#humankind #inspirational #poetry #profound #understanding

There are wrongs for which religion makes no provision, and of which it has no comprehension. --"Wanda ↗

— Ouida

#sin #understanding #wrongs #religion

The problem with Christianity is more people profess the truth than live it. So much hypocrisy abounds that I can no longer say I count myself among them without being held to the same unachievable standard. ↗

— Shannon L. Alder

#fake #false #hypocrisy #immorality #judgement

Never expect people to understand, respect or love you , they are just a bunch of dirty flesh and fake skins. Staring to eat you when you are fat enough. ↗

— M.F. Moonzajer

#expect #fake-skins #love #respect #staring

Understanding is a kind of ecstasy ↗

— Carl Sagan

#understanding #science

A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding. ↗

— Marshall McLuhan

#opinion #probes #social-science #understanding #wisdom

There was something in her eyes that made me trust her. Maybe it was because they held the same cynicism, the same world-weariness I saw in my own every morning when I looked at myself in the mirror. ↗

— Melika Dannese Lux

#kindred-spirits #olga-belododia #partners #realization #recognition

Language is not the barrier, the heart is". ~R. Alan Woods [2012] ↗

— R. Alan Woods

#language-understanding #r-alan-woods #r-alan-woods