When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
As soon as you look at the world through an ideology you are finished. No reality fits an ideology. Life is beyond that. That is why people are always searching for a meaning to life. But life has no meaning; it cannot have meaning because meaning is a formula; meaning is something that makes sense to the mind. Every time you make sense out of reality, you bump into something that destroys the sense you made . Meaning is only found when you go beyond meaning.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ideologies limit our understanding of reality, which is inherently complex and without predefined meaning.
In this quote, Anthony De Mello asserts that when we view the world strictly through an ideology, we inevitably distort reality. He suggests that life transcends the confines of any ideology or predefined meaning, highlighting the fluid and unpredictable nature of existence. The search for meaning often leads to frustration, as true understanding comes from embracing life beyond the constraints of our mental frameworks.
Themes
IdeologyRealityMeaningLifeBeyondUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the nature of reality and ideology.
More from Anthony De Mello
All quotes →Perfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.
Anthony De MelloRead
The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows up?" someone asked. "Outrageously happy," said the master.
Anthony De MelloRead
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
Anthony De MelloRead
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn't harden itself to any persons or things.
Anthony De MelloRead
Problems only exist in the human mind.
Anthony De MelloRead
Similar quotes
For then only will you be strong, when you cherish the laws, and when the revolutionary attempts of lawless men shall have ceased.
AeschinesRead
The best physician is also a philosopher.
GalenRead
You are sitting and smoking; you believe that you are sitting in your pipe, and that your pipe is smoking you; you are exhaling yourself in bluish clouds. You feel just fine in this position, and only one thing gives you worry or concern: how will you ever be able to get out of your pipe?
Charles BaudelaireRead
Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.
Aiden Wilson TozerRead
He that Opposes his own Judgment against the Current of the Times, ought to be back'd with unanswerable Truths; and he that has that Truth on his Side, is a Fool, as well as a Coward, if he is afraid to own it, because of the Currency or Multitude of other Mens Opinions.
Daniel DefoeRead
The individual must not merely wait and criticize, he must defend the cause the best he can. The fate of the world will be such as the world deserves.
Albert EinsteinRead