"The body is the substance of the stone"

George Ripley's quote, "The body is the substance of the stone," can be translated in a variety of methods. One possible analysis is that the physical makeup of the body is analogous to that of a stone - both possess a certain strength and withstanding nature. This suggests that the body is a basic part of our being, one that can not be disregarded or undervalued. Furthermore, the expression "compound of the stone" could be taken to mean that the body is the essence of our presence, the structure upon which whatever else is developed. In general, Ripley's quote stresses the importance of the body and its centrality to our being.