Frithjof Schuon

Philosopher, Metaphysician, an exponent of the Religio Perennis, and one of the foremost spokesmen of the Perennialist or Traditionalist School.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

True dignity could not be affected, it is sincere by definition. (The Play of Masks, On Intention)

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

(From Spiritual Perspectives & Human Facts, p. 113)

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

To the extent it is ontologically positive the effect is not really distinct from its cause.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

and in this respect the world exists even though in the final analysis it is reducible to this cause itself.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

On the other hand, insofar as it expresses infinity—not insofar as it negates immutability—change must have God for its cause,

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

The world cannot have God for its cause insofar as it is subject to change; from the standpoint of its negative character, the world is not.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

God is its cause only insofar as the change, or all change, expresses the divine infinity or all-possibility in the language of diversity.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

Or again, to consider simply change as such:

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

but insofar as this apparent change—which for us is real—affirms an aspect of the Immutable.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

but He is its cause not insofar as it is a change

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

He is the cause of all things, and He is therefore the cause of what appears to us as change;

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

God cannot change; hence He cannot be the cause of a change as such.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

...to speak of exoterism is to speak also of esoterism, and this means that the statements of the former are symbols of the latter.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

Every man must resign himself to the thought that he is of necessity a little foolish; humility is not a luxury.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

With cunning man falls 'intelligently' into error, but with a sense of proportion he remains 'naively' in truth.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

True intelligence has no need of cunning, for it has a sense of proportion.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

Wisdom or prudence is defensive and is based on generosity; but cunning is aggressive, and its basis is a glacial egoism.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

"Be ye therefore wise as serpents," says the Gospel, not "be ye therefore cunning as foxes."

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

The prerogative of the human state is objectivity, the essential content of which is the Absolute.

[Frithjof Schuon @frithjofschuon]

his experience amounts to that of a child who, having burnt himself, wants to abolish fire.