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All things began in Order, so shall they end, and so shall they begin again, according to the Ordainer of Order, and the mystical mathematicks of the City of Heaven.
Thomas Browne
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that everything starts and ends with a sense of order, reflecting a cyclical nature guided by a higher power.

Thomas Browne's quote reflects on the inherent order and structure that governs the universe. It implies that beginnings and endings are not random but rather part of a divine orchestration, where the 'Ordainer of Order' represents a supreme being who establishes this cosmic order. The mention of 'mystical mathematicks' suggests that there is a profound, almost mathematical certainty to the patterns of existence within the 'City of Heaven,' indicating a belief in divine logic and harmony that pervades all life.

Themes

OrderBeginningsEndingsDivineUniverseCyclicalPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

During a lecture on cosmology, one might quote this to illustrate the structured nature of the universe.

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To be content with death may be better than to desire it.
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Life itself is but the shadow of death, and souls departed but the shadows of the living.
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