--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They recite their sacred books, although…" description: "\"They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/al-ma-arri-47224_book_they-recite-their-sacred-books-although_1853408.jpg" --- # They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs… ![“They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the (religious) traditions or interpreted them!” quote by Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/al-ma-arri-47224_book_they-recite-their-sacred-books-although_1853408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/al-ma-arri-47224_book_they-recite-their-sacred-books-although_1853408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/al-ma-arri-47224_book_they-recite-their-sacred-books-although_1853408.jpg) > “They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the (religious) traditions or interpreted them!” [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True reason reveals the falseness of religious traditions; those who cling to them are foolish and doomed. **In simple terms:** Reason shows religious traditions are false; fools suffer. Key Takeaway Rely on reason over blind tradition. Themes skepticism reason religion truth folly Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - academic debate - personal belief evaluation - cultural critique Key Concepts philosophy critical thinking mythology Questions to Reflect On - How can reason coexist with spiritual practice? - What value, traditions hold beyond literal truth? A Different Perspective It may dismiss meaningful aspects of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious traditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-traditions/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The division between faith and reason is a half-measure, till it is frankly admitted that faith has to do with fiction, and reason with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stephen/the-division-between-faith-and-reason-is-a-half-measure-till-it-is/) [Leslie Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stephen/) > [Narrative and metaphysics alike become flimsy and frivolous if they venture too far from the home base of all humanism - the single, simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/narrative-and-metaphysics-alike-become-flimsy-and-frivolous-if-they/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [With fiction, there’s no reason why everything you write shouldn’t be amazing. 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Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Proverbs, like the sacred books of each nation, are the sanctuary of the intuitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/proverbs-like-the-sacred-books-of-each-nation-are-the-sanctuary-of-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Make each day truly new, dressing it with the blessings of heaven, bathing it in wisdom and love and putting yourself under the protection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/make-each-day-truly-new-dressing-it-with-the-blessings-of-heaven/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The sacred books should be burned rather than made available to women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-talmud/the-sacred-books-should-be-burned-rather-than-made-available-to-women/) [The Talmud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-talmud/) > [There is nothing but water in the holy pools. I know, I have been swimming there. All the gods sculpted of wood or ivory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/there-is-nothing-but-water-in-the-holy-pools-i-know-i-have-been/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [“I get a glimpse of the mind of many souls from their sacred books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-get-a-glimpse-of-the-mind-of-many-souls-from-their-sacred-books/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Scriptures - The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/scriptures-the-sacred-books-of-our-holy-religion-as-distinguished/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Al-Maʿarri > [O fools, awake! The rites ye sacred hold Are but a cheat contrived by men of old Who lusted after wealth and gained their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/o-fools-awake-the-rites-ye-sacred-hold-are-but-a-cheat-contrived-by/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/give-a-drink-of-water-as-alms-to-the-birds-which-go-forth-at-morning/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [“So, too, the creeds of man: the one prevails Until the other comes; and this one fails When that one triumphs; ay, the lonesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/so-too-the-creeds-of-man-the-one-prevails-until-the-other-comes-and/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [Reason forbade me many things which, Instinctively, my nature was attracted to; And a perpetual loss I feel if, knowing, I believe a falsehood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/reason-forbade-me-many-things-which-instinctively-my-nature-was/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [A little doubt is better than total credulity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/a-little-doubt-is-better-than-total-credulity/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [They all err - Muslims, Christians, Jews and Magians. 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