"Start with God - the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning"
- King Solomon
About this Quote
This quote, credited to King Solomon, communicates deep philosophical and doctrinal insights about the structure of knowledge and wisdom. In the opening phrase, "Start with God," Solomon asserts the primacy of a divine-centric technique to understanding the world. This suggests that acknowledging a greater power is an important precursor to acquiring true knowledge. Solomon, understood for his knowledge, implies that the mission for understanding must be rooted in spirituality and reverence towards the divine.
The subsequent part of the quote, "the primary step in knowing is worshiping God," enhances the concept of humbleness before the divine as the beginning of knowledge. "Bowing down" represents an act of respect and submission, suggesting that a person need to recognize their limitations and the requirement for divine guidance. This can be interpreted as a call to humility, advocating that real knowledge starts when we accept that human understanding is minimal and that there is a deeper, more extensive source of understanding beyond ourselves.
The concluding sector of the quote, "just fools thumb their noses at such knowledge and learning," works as a stark caution versus conceit and impiety. "Thumb their noses" is an idiomatic expression symbolizing contempt or disrespect. By labeling those who dismiss this approach as "fools," Solomon underscores the folly in overlooking the basic facts provided by divine knowledge. He contrasts those who honor God and welcome humility with those who rely entirely on their own understanding, suggesting that the latter group misses out on the much deeper insights and assistance readily available through a spiritually attuned technique to knowing.
Overall, the quote stresses the value of beginning with a divine structure and approaching understanding with humility and respect. In doing so, one lines up oneself with a long tradition of wisdom that values the interconnectedness of the spiritual and intellectual realms, warning versus the hubris of disregarding this connection.
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