"The whole object of the Prophets and the Sages was to declare that a limit is set to human reason where it must halt"

Maimonides, in stating that the object of the Prophets and Sages was to declare a limit to human reason where it must halt, addresses the perennial philosophical and theological issue of the boundaries of rational thought. Human reason, he suggests, is a remarkable faculty but fundamentally finite. There is a point at which logical investigation and intellectual inquiry confront horizons they cannot cross; certain realities, particularly those pertaining to the divine or metaphysical, are inherently inaccessible to even the sharpest minds.

Through the Prophets and Sages, figures revered for their wisdom and spiritual insight, a message is communicated not merely about the greatness of reason but about its insufficiency. The role of these spiritual teachers is not simply to enrich knowledge or encourage speculation, but to remind humanity of the necessarily humble role of intellect in the search for ultimate truth. In Maimonides' context, this is directed particularly at people who believe that every aspect of existence, including God's essence and purpose, is within the grasp of logic. There is a spiritual humility required; one must recognize when rationalization becomes futile or even misguided, and when faith, reverence, or acceptance must take over.

Instead of viewing the limitations of reason as a failure, Maimonides sees these boundaries as essential markers, guiding individuals toward a deeper, more authentic relationship with what transcends their comprehension. This perspective encourages inquiry up to the point of honest intellectual effort but also cultivates awe, wonder, and a sense of the mystery that surrounds existence. The Prophets and Sages, then, serve as both exemplars of intellect and as custodians of humility, their primary function being to orient people rightly toward the infinite, a task that requires both the exercise of reason and the acknowledgement of its end.