Quote by Saint John of the Cross, The Asc
Wherefore a man can know nothing by himself, save after a natural manner, which is only that which he attains by means of the senses. For this cause he must have the phantasms and the forms of objects present in themselves and in their likenesses; otherwise it cannot be, for, as philosophers say: Ab objecto et potentia paritur notitia. That is: From the object that is present and from the faculty, knowledge is born in the soul. Wherefore, if one should speak to a man of things which he has never been able to understand, and whose likeness he has never seen, he would have no more illumination from them whatever than if naught had been said of them to him.
Summary
This quote argues that a person can only acquire knowledge through their senses and experiences. According to this perspective, individuals can only gain understanding of something if they have firsthand encounters with its forms or directly witness its likenesses. It emphasizes the necessity of having both the object itself and the capability to perceive it in order for knowledge to be born within the mind. Therefore, if someone is told about things they have never encountered or visualized, they will gain no profound insight or understanding from the information given.
Topics
Knowledge
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
Random Quotations
