Divine Love and Wisdom (Harleys) n. 2

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

2. No-one knows what the life of man is unless he knows that it is love. If he does not know this, one person can believe that man's life is only sensating and doing, another that it is thinking, when yet, thought is the first effect of life while the second effect of life is sensation and action. It is said that thought is the first effect of life, but there is thought [that is] more and more interior, also thought more and more exterior. The inmost thought, which is the perception of ends,* is actually the first effect of life; but these things will be treated of below, where degrees of life are considered. * ends-here meaning purpose or final use.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church