Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Any language or image we use to describe God distorts the reality rather than accurately representing it.
In plain terms
Describing God changes the truth.
What can you take from it?
Avoid trying to fully define the divine with words.

Where it applies

  • religious discourse
  • theological writing

Putting it to work

  • use metaphor sparingly
  • embrace mystery

Questions to consider

  • How do you balance reverence and clarity when speaking of the divine?
  • Can any language ever capture the essence of God?

Another view

Some people find comfort in concrete descriptions of the divine.

More from Anthony de Mello

  1. Do you know what eternal life is? You think it's everlasting life. But your own theologians will tell you that that is crazy, because everlasting is still with…

    Permalink to quote #8
  2. 'Help us to find God.' 'No one can help you there.' 'Why not?' 'For the same reason that no one can help the fish to find the ocean.'

    Permalink to quote #10
  3. As you identify less and less with the 'me,' you will be more at ease with everybody and with everything. Do you know why? Because you are no longer afraid of …

    Permalink to quote #7

Related quotes

  1. Non Agli sed Angeli

    Gregory IGregory I quote #1
  2. The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth. The nam…

    Lao TzuLao Tzu quote #2
  3. I was an idealist in my profession. If I used such expression as 'Jewish bastard' or 'Jewish sow,' it simply meant that this official language had become so mu…

    Heinrich BaabHeinrich Baab quote #2