Quotes about Clarity

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.

Often we judge ourselves by our intentions and everyone else by their actions. It is possible to intend one thing while communicating something totally different. Sometimes our true motives are cleverly hidden even from us.

We are men born in a land of eternal darkness. We grope where we cannot see clearly. Why mistrust what ancient books say? Why mistrust what our souls say? Our forefathers gave us this lamp, and the flame was lit in brighter days, when men saw further. I agree the lamp-light of such far-off lore, is dim for us; but surely that proves it to be folly, not wisdom, to cast the lamp aside: for then we are blind.

We both felt that the chief virtue of an interpreter consists in clarity combined with brevity.

For when any one understands this Epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.

For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any books however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.

So, too, David, after he has prayed the ways of God be made known to him so that he may walk in his truth, immediately adds, "Unite my heart to fear thy name" [Ps. 86:11; cf. Ps. 119:33]. By these words he means that even well-disposed persons have been subject to so many distractions that they readily vanish or fall away unless they are strengthened to persevere.

Man's disposition voluntarily so inclines to falsehood that he more quickly derives error from one word than truth from a wordy discourse.

Whenever God revealed himself to be seen by the fathers, he never appeared as he is in himself but as he could be understood by human minds.

Faith rests not on ignorance, but on knowledge.

Without the Word, there is nothing left for us but darkness.

For he contrasts shadows with revelation, and absence with manifestation.