"People talk about revelation, and say it has ceased; but what ignorance it bespeaks, when man knows not the least thing on earth without revelation"

Elias Hicks's quote delves into the concept of revelation as a continuous, integral process instead of a historical event confined to the past. To interpret this declaration, we must initially understand what he suggests by "revelation". Generally, revelation is viewed as divine truth divulged to mankind, typically seen in religious texts or spiritual insights. Hicks challenges the prevalent belief of his time that revelation is a closed chapter, arguing rather that discovery is an ongoing, necessary methods by which humans obtain any understanding or understanding, no matter how mundane.

By highlighting humankind's lack of intrinsic understanding--"when guy knows not the least thing in the world without discovery"-- Hicks recommends that all awareness, understanding, or discovery rests upon a form of unveiling or knowledge. This interpretation may be broadened to include not just spiritual insights but likewise clinical discoveries, creative inspiration, and personal epiphanies. Hicks indicates that revelation is not just universal and continuous but also multifaceted.

His declaration can likewise be viewed as a critique of the presumption that human reasoning or empirical observation alone can expose truth. Rather, Hicks appears to advocate for an acknowledgment of a deeper, maybe magnificent, influence that facilitates understanding. The "ignorance" Hicks points out might describe a hubristic termination of this reliance on revelation.

In addition, this perspective aligns with the Quaker belief in the 'Inner Light,' suggesting that divine guidance is available to everyone and is an individual, continuous process. Hicks's quote, for that reason, challenges individuals to remain available to new insights and not to dismiss the possibility of discovery simply because standard religious stories have actually stated it ended.

In essence, Elias Hicks urges us to think about revelation as an ever-present force, crucial for every element of our understanding of the world, pressing against traditional boundaries, and inviting a more dynamic interaction with knowledge itself.