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I am no mere chance pile of flesh and bone: if I were only that, I should fall into corruption and dust before your eyes. I am the embodiment of a thought of God: I am the Word made flesh: that is what holds me together standing before you in the image of God. ... The Word is God. And God is within you. ... In so far as you know the truth you have it from my God, who is your heavenly father and mine. He has many names and his nature is manifold. ... It is by children who are wiser than their fathers, subjects who are wiser than their emperors, beggars and vagrants who are wiser than their priests, that men rise from being beasts of prey to believing in me and being saved. ... By their fruits ye shall know them. Beware how you kill a thought that is new to you. For that thought may be the foundation of the kingdom of God on earth.

George Bernard Shaw#193

HumanityProgressFaithSpiritualityIdeasDivinity

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About this quote

What does it mean?
Shaw argues humans are embodiments of divine thought and urges caution against killing new ideas.
In plain terms
He believes we are connected to God and new thoughts can build a better world.
What can you take from it?
Protect new ideas because they might change the world.

Where it applies

  • philosophical debate
  • religious discussion
  • intellectual freedom

Putting it to work

  • encourage new thinking
  • challenge authority

Questions to consider

  • How do new ideas save us?
  • What kills progress?

Another view

The religious language may alienate secular readers.

More from George Bernard Shaw

  1. All government is cruel; for nothing is so cruel as impunity.

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  2. The kingdom of God is striving to come. The empire that looks back in terror shall give way to the kingdom that looks forward with hope. Terror drives men mad:…

    Permalink to quote #194

  3. I dislike cruelty, even cruelty to other people, and should therefore like to see all cruel people exterminated. But I should recoil with horror from a proposa…

    Permalink to quote #191

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