All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher. -- Quoted by Ira D Cardiff, What Great Men Think of Religion (1972 [c1945], p. 245), quoted from James A Haught, 2000 Years of Disbelief (see: Talk:Seneca_the_Younger)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Religion serves different purposes depending on who is viewing it: comfort for the unaware, utility for leaders, and absurdity for thinkers.
- In plain terms
- Different people value religion for different reasons.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that perspectives on religion vary by background and role.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does your view of religion differ from others?
- When is belief useful versus limiting?
Another view
The statement generalizes complex personal faith experiences.
More from Lucretius
Circumretit enim vis atque iniuria quemque, atque, unde exortast, at eum plerumque revertit.
Permalink to quote #24 Nam cupide conculcatur nimis ante metutum.
Permalink to quote #23 Quod siquis vera vitam ratione gubernet, divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parvo aequo animo; neque enim est umquam penuria parvi.
Permalink to quote #22
Related quotes
I read a book lately by Nietzsche and he says religion is just to dull the senses of the people. I agree.
Bobby FischerBobby Fischer quote #37 The major religions on the Earth contradict each other left and right. You can't all be correct. And what if all of you are wrong? It's a possibility, you know…
Carl SaganCarl Sagan quote #39 An atheist, like a Christian, holds that we can know whether or not there is a God. The Christian holds that we can know there is a God; the atheist, that we c…
Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell quote #44