All of the Ten Commandments that are good were old; all…
“All of the Ten Commandments that are good were old; all that were new art foolish. If Jehovah had been civilized he would have left out the commandment about keeping the Sabbath, and in its place would have said: "Thou shalt not enslave thy fellow-men." He would have omitted the one about swearing, and said: "The man shall have but one wife, and the woman but one husband." He would have left out the one about graven images, and in its stead would have said: "Thou shalt not wage wars of extermination, and thou shalt not unsheathe the sword except in self-defence.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He critiques traditional commandments, suggesting more humane alternatives focused on equality and non‑violence.
In simple terms: He proposes more humane moral rules.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethics based on compassion and equality.
Themes
ethics
religion
humanism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Legal reform
- education curricula
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
social justice
historical critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Which commandments would you revise today?
- How can societies adopt more compassionate laws?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted traditions meets resistance.