Those who wish to seek out the cause of miracles and to understand the things of nature as philosophers, and not to stare at them in astonishment like fools, are soon considered heretical and impious, and proclaimed as such by those whom the mob adores as the interpreters of nature and the gods. For these men know that, once ignorance is put aside, that wonderment would be taken away, which is the only means by which their authority is preserved. Baruch Spinoza
About This Quote

The most important thing to know about a miracle is that it is a natural phenomenon. Miracles are caused by natural laws. The things of nature are, in fact, the work of nature, not of a divine being. In order to get a deeper understanding of this, we need to get to know the four elements of nature: earth, fire, air and water.

The elements without which there would be nothing in nature. Water is always the first to disappear from a body, which is why it is called the mother element. Next come fire and air, both of which are also essential to life.

Earth comes next and absorbs all other elements into its own body before they can escape from it. These four elements are the key to understanding how nature works and how miracles occur.

Source: Ethics

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More Quotes By Baruch Spinoza
  1. The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.

  2. I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of the peace.

  3. I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.

  4. The more you struggle to live, the less you live. Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing. Instead, surrender to what is real within you, for that alone is sure....you are above everything distressing.

  5. Minds, however, are conquered not by arms, but by love and nobility.

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