Every phenomenon of nature was a word, - the sign, symbol and pledge of a new, mysterious, inexpressible but all the more intimate union, participation and community of divine energies and ideas.
Interpretation
Nature embodies deeper meanings and connections beyond mere appearances.
This quote by Johann Georg Hamann suggests that all elements of nature are not just physical phenomena but also represent profound symbols of the divine and interconnectedness. It emphasizes the idea that the natural world is filled with mysteries that point to a greater spiritual reality, fostering a sense of unity and participation in divine energies and ideas.
In practice
In a speech about environmental protection, one could quote this to emphasize the spiritual significance of nature.
Being, belief and reason are pure relations, which cannot be dealt with absolutely, and are not things but pure scholastic concepts, signs for understanding, not for worshipping, aids to awaken our attention, not to fetter it.
The weakness of ourselves and of our reason makes us see flaws in beauties by making us consider everything piece by piece.
Nature is a book, a letter, a fairy tale (in the philosophical sense) or whatever you want to call it.
The product of paper and printed ink, that we commonly call the book, is one of the great visible mediators between spirit and time, and, reflecting zeitgeist, lasts as long as ore and stone.
Everything is vain and tortures the spirit instead of calming and satisfying it.
Not only the entire ability to think rests on language... but language is also the crux of the misunderstanding of reason with itself.
There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan.
Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.
There is no reason to assume that the universe has the slightest interest in intelligence—or even in life. Both may be random accidental by-products of its operations like the beautiful patterns on a butterfly's wings. The insect would fly just as well without them.
I am an Epicurean. I consider the genuine (not the imputed) doctrines of Epicurus as containing everything rational in moral philosophy which Greece and Rome have left us.
The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked.
You can know all there is to know about life and mankind, but what do you really know about yourself?
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