Famous John Marks Templeton Quotes
“If we become increasingly humble about how little we know, we may be more eager to search.”
The Quotable Sir John
Variant: If we become increasingly humble about how little we know, we may be more eager to search.
"The Devout Donor" by Jessi Hempel in Business Week (28 November 2005) http://www.templetonpress.org/sirjohn/articles_details.asp
Context: We are trying to persuade people that no human has yet grasped 1% of what can be known about spiritual realities. So we are encouraging people to start using the same methods of science that have been so productive in other areas, in order to discover spiritual realities.
John Marks Templeton Quotes about people
The Quotable Sir John
John Marks Templeton Quotes about time
“The four most expensive words in the English language are "this time it’s different."”
As quoted in The Four Pillars of Investing : Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio (2002) by William Bernstein
“We may find the Divine to be 3,000 times what we think it is now.”
The Quotable Sir John
Context: We may find the Divine to be 3,000 times what we think it is now. It's like asking the tulip there to explain you. The tulip is a beautiful creation, with millions of atoms cooperating with each other to produce great beauty, but ask that tulip to talk about you, and it can't do it. It doesn't have those perceptive abilities. Wouldn't it be conceited to suggest that I had the abilities to describe the deity?
The Quotable Sir John
John Marks Templeton Quotes
“It's self centered to think that human beings, as limited as we are, can describe divinity.”
The Quotable Sir John
Context: The correct description is that we try every day to become more humble when we talk about divinity, we try to realize how little we know and how open minded we should be. It's self centered to think that human beings, as limited as we are, can describe divinity.
“The question is not is there a God, but is there anything else except God?”
The Quotable Sir John
Context: The question is not is there a God, but is there anything else except God? God is everyone and each of us is a little bit.
The Quotable Sir John
Context: We hope that there will be nothing that conflicts with anybody's religion or faith. We would never say a person's religion is not effective. We say, "Would you be interested in something more effective?" We always put things in an optimistic, progressive perspective. Do you want to make your prayers more effective? Not that they are not effective, but do you want to help them become more effective?
“Wouldn't it be conceited to suggest that I had the abilities to describe the deity?”
The Quotable Sir John
Context: We may find the Divine to be 3,000 times what we think it is now. It's like asking the tulip there to explain you. The tulip is a beautiful creation, with millions of atoms cooperating with each other to produce great beauty, but ask that tulip to talk about you, and it can't do it. It doesn't have those perceptive abilities. Wouldn't it be conceited to suggest that I had the abilities to describe the deity?
“If you are not egotistical, you will welcome the opportunity to learn more.”
The Quotable Sir John
Context: I have no quarrel with what I learned in the Presbyterian church — I am still an enthusiastic Christian. But why shouldn't I try to learn more? Why shouldn't I go to Hindu services? Why shouldn't I go to Muslim services? If you are not egotistical, you will welcome the opportunity to learn more.
“Work at being a humble person.”
The Quotable Sir John
Variant: Work at being a humble person.
The Quotable Sir John
