"Sense is a line, the mind is a circle. Sense is like a line which is the flux of a point running out from itself, but intellect like a circle that keeps within itself"

Ralph Cudworth's philosophical metaphor comparing sense to a line and the mind to a circle encapsulates an extensive consideration on the nature of understanding and intellect. This analogy hinges upon the essential distinction between sensory experience and intellectual insight as distinct functions of human cognition.

First of all, Cudworth's description of sense as a line recommends a direct and uncomplicated progression. In this context, sense refers to the instant and direct experiences originated from our interaction with the external world. Like a line extending external from a point, the senses operate as channels through which information is received, interpreted, and acted upon. This linearity implies a transient and fleeting nature of sensory perception. A line suggests a journey outside that is constant and, perhaps, limitless, reflecting how sensory input is ever-changing and diverse, dependent on external stimuli.

In contrast, the mind, imagined as a circle, embodies efficiency, unity, and self-containment. Cudworth's circle symbolizes the intellect's ability to manufacture, understand, and keep understanding holistically. The circular type recommends an aspect of perfection and unlimited regression or recursion, inviting the idea that the intelligence is both a repository and processor of ideas that constantly refer back to themselves. Unlike the direct trajectory of sensory input, the intelligence cycles through thought, reflection, and understanding. This cyclic nature represents the mind's capacity for self-reflection, self-questioning, and deeper comprehension beyond immediate sensory inputs.

The juxtaposition of line and circle also discreetly communicates the relationship in between the sensory and intellectual worlds. While sensory experiences provide raw information and preliminary impressions, the intelligence refines, arranges, and interprets these inputs through a process of internalization and reflection. The intelligence, by processing sensory information, constructs a meaningful worldview, transcending simple sensory input to develop knowledge and insight.

Thus, Cudworth's images encapsulates the dichotomy and interaction in between sensory understanding and intellectual cognition, highlighting the mind's exceptional capability to transcend mere information acquisition, engaging instead in deeper synthesis, reflection, and understanding.