For our intellectual spirit has the power of fire in itself. For no other purpose is it sent by God to the earth than that it glow and grow into a flame. When it is excited by admiration, then it grows, just as if the wind entering into a fire excited its potential to actuality. If we apprehend the works of God, we marvel at eternal wisdom.
Toward a new Council of Florence: 'On the peace of faith' and other works by Nicolaus of Cusa (ed. Schiller Inst, 1993)