"There is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence in our own intelligence"

John Calvin's quote is a suggestion that we should not rely solely on our own intelligence and understanding. He is suggesting that when we end up being too confident in our own intelligence, we can become blind to the assistance of the Spirit. We can become so concentrated on our own understanding that we forget to look for the knowledge of the Spirit. This can cause us making decisions that are not in line with God's will. We need to rather strive to be modest and open to the guidance of the Spirit. We ought to want to accept that our own understanding is restricted and that we can gain from the wisdom of the Spirit. We ought to want to listen and be guided by the Spirit, rather than relying solely on our own intelligence.