--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the [Catholic] Church stood squarely…" description: "\"Only the [Catholic] Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg" --- # Only the \[Catholic\] Church stood squarely across the path… ![“Only the [Catholic] Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth…” quote by Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg) > “Only the \[Catholic\] Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.” [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Einstein praises the Catholic Church for opposing Hitler’s suppression of truth, noting its courage and moral steadfastness. **In simple terms:** He admires the Church for defending truth and freedom against tyranny. Key Takeaway Recognize and support institutions that uphold truth. Themes courage truth morality political resistance Mood respectful reflective Type historical ethical When to use this quote - standing against authoritarian regimes - defending academic freedom - supporting moral leadership Key Concepts intellectual freedom ethical integrity institutional resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can we evaluate institutions that have both commendable and problematic pasts? - What role should moral courage play in public life? A Different Perspective Critics may argue the Church’s broader history includes complicity with oppressive regimes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Admiration Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration-church-2620597/) [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Campaigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/campaigns/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-church/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-courage-2620594/) [Church Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-feel-981721/) [Church Stood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-stood-4971741/) [Despised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despised/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-freedom/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-interests/) [Suppressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppressing/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Only the Catholic Church protested against the Hitlerian onslaught on liberty. Up till then I had not been interested in the Church, but today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-the-catholic-church-protested-against-the-hitlerian-onslaught-on/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Hard by the church stood the public house; so often the two are closely conjoined, honorably sharing both joys and sorrows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremias-gotthelf/hard-by-the-church-stood-the-public-house-so-often-the-two-are/) [Jeremias Gotthelf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremias-gotthelf/) > [“If God were to remove all evil from our world (but somehow leave human beings on the planet), it would mean that the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/if-god-were-to-remove-all-evil-from-our-world-but-somehow-leave-human-2/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [What is the value of any political freedom, but as a means to moral freedom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-the-value-of-any-political-freedom-but-as-a-means-to-moral/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The promulgation of the great doctrines of religion, the being, and attributes, and providence of one Almighty God: the responsibility to him for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/the-promulgation-of-the-great-doctrines-of-religion-the-being-and/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [The only answer to this, and it isn't an entire answer, said Father Travis, is that God made human beings free agents. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/the-only-answer-to-this-and-it-isn-t-an-entire-answer-said-father/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“You see, Monsieur, it's worth everything, isn't it, to keep one's intellectual liberty, not to enslave one's powers of appreciation, one's critical independence? It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/you-see-monsieur-it-s-worth-everything-isn-t-it-to-keep-one-s/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“I don't complain of conventional morality. I complain rather of the mediocre heretics who seize upon the findings of sophistication and adopt the pose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-don-t-complain-of-conventional-morality-i-complain-rather-of-the/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Do we call this the land of the free? What is it to be free from King George and continue the slaves of King…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/do-we-call-this-the-land-of-the-free-what-is-it-to-be-free-from-king-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Do we call this the land of the free? What is it to be free from King George the Fourth and continue the slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/do-we-call-this-the-land-of-the-free-what-is-it-to-be-free-from-king/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The insistence on truthfulness does not disturb the freedom of the individual. The social obligation implied in Satyagraha turns the freedom of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goparaju-ramachandra-rao/the-insistence-on-truthfulness-does-not-disturb-the-freedom-of-the/) [Goparaju Ramachandra Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goparaju-ramachandra-rao/) > [Man had freedom to choose the good, but this same freedom also allowed him to choose the bad. This is called moral freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/man-had-freedom-to-choose-the-good-but-this-same-freedom-also-allowed/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [“She would certainly eat only black bread and drink only water rather than sell her soul, and she would not surrender her moral freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dostoevsky-f/she-would-certainly-eat-only-black-bread-and-drink-only-water-rather/) [Dostoevsky F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dostoevsky-f/) > [Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/only-a-virtuous-people-are-capable-of-freedom-as-nations-become/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“A.W. Tozer captured these ideas very well when he wrote: Here is my view: God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-w-tozer-captured-these-ideas-very-well-when-he-wrote-here-is-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Albert Einstein > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The strongest force in the universe is Compound Interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-strongest-force-in-the-universe-is-compound-interest/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The right to search for the truth implies also a duty; one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-right-to-search-for-the-truth-implies-also-a-duty-one-must-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The world we have made is a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-world-we-have-made-is-a-result-of-the-level-of-thinking-we-have/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Life isn't worth living, unless it is lived for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/life-isn-t-worth-living-unless-it-is-lived-for-someone-else/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it isn't true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/just-because-you-don-t-believe-in-something-doesn-t-mean-it-isn-t-true/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But there is another reason for the high repute of mathematics: it is mathematics that offers the exact natural sciences a certain measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/but-there-is-another-reason-for-the-high-repute-of-mathematics-it-is/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nothing-will-benefit-human-health-and-increase-the-chances-for/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Explore all 2,339 Albert Einstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More Admiration quotes > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/) [Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/) > [“There have been those among us who have been so dazzled by the might and technological wizardy of Europe that they have been rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahdaf-soueif/there-have-been-those-among-us-who-have-been-so-dazzled-by-the-might/) [Ahdaf Soueif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahdaf-soueif/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“A warm, trustworthy person who is also strong elicits admiration, but only after you’ve established trust does your strength become a gift rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/a-warm-trustworthy-person-who-is-also-strong-elicits-admiration-but/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [“Let me make two remarks. First I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I’m quite busy with that—thank you very much. And I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/let-me-make-two-remarks-first-i-concentrate-on-the-task-ahead-for/) [Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/) > [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/) [Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/) > [Admittedly great though these reasons be, they are not the principal grounds, that is, those which may rightfully claim for themselves the privilege of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/admittedly-great-though-these-reasons-be-they-are-not-the-principal/) [Giovanni Pico della Mirandola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/) > [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) [Browse all 1,179 Admiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only the [Catholic] Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Einstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely-across-the-path-of-hitler-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely-across-the-path-of-hitler-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/albert-einstein-33_admiration_only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely_3034392.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the [Catholic] Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I…” — Albert Einstein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Einstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only the [Catholic] Church stood squarely...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely-across-the-path-of-hitler-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-the-catholic-church-stood-squarely-across-the-path-of-hitler-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```