No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer.
Thomas BrowneRead
Thus there are two books from whence I collect my Divinity; besides that written one of God, another of his servant Nature, that universal and public Manuscript, that lies expans'd unto the eyes of all; those that never saw him in the one, have discovered him in the other.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that both the divine and the natural world offer insights into understanding God.
Thomas Browne emphasizes the dual sources of knowledge about divinity: the sacred texts traditionally associated with God and the natural world itself, which he describes as a universal manuscript. He highlights that even those who have not encountered the divine through scripture can find evidence of God in nature, suggesting that the study of the natural world can lead to a greater spiritual understanding.
Themes
DivinityNatureKnowledgeUnderstandingSpirituality
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker discussing the intersection of religion and science can use this quote to illustrate the importance of both perspectives.
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The long habit of living indisposeth us for dying.
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Life is a pure flame and we live by an invisible sun within us.
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