--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not be at all surprised to find…" description: "\"I would not be at all surprised to find that it was for gold that Cain committed the first murder. (It happened a very long time ago, and Holy Writ, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/anonymous-1_cain_i-would-not-be-at-all-surprised-to-find_2420041.jpg" --- # I would not be at all surprised to find that it was for… ![“I would not be at all surprised to find that it was for gold that Cain committed the first murder. (It happened a very long time ago, and Holy Writ, though no doubt divinely inspired, is a trifle careless about details. God is not a historian).” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/anonymous-1_cain_i-would-not-be-at-all-surprised-to-find_2420041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/anonymous-1_cain_i-would-not-be-at-all-surprised-to-find_2420041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/anonymous-1_cain_i-would-not-be-at-all-surprised-to-find_2420041.jpg) > “I would not be at all surprised to find that it was for gold that Cain committed the first murder. (It happened a very long time ago, and Holy Writ, though no doubt divinely inspired, is a trifle careless about details. God is not a historian).” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests gold may have motivated Cain, highlighting material greed as a possible motive for the first murder. **In simple terms:** Gold could be Cain’s motive. Key Takeaway Consider motives beyond literal text. Themes greed biblical interpretation motivation Mood thoughtful critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - discuss biblical motives - examine moral lessons - compare with other myths Key Concepts materialism human nature theology Questions to Reflect On - What drives human violence? - Can material desire justify wrongdoing? A Different Perspective Historical accuracy is uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) [Cain Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain-committed-6121831/) [Careless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careless/) [Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed/) [Details](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/details/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-cain-6121830/) [Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy Writ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-writ-326780/) [Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time-ago/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Murder Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder-happened-6121832/) [Trifles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trifles/) ## Related quotes > [Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/trifles-light-as-air-are-to-the-jealous-confirmations-strong-as/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“As striking a paradox as any in Holy Writ is that the very God who from eternity elected a limited number of men to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-striking-a-paradox-as-any-in-holy-writ-is-that-the-very-god-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is always easier to take the words of a Jesus, a Gandhi, a Marx, or a Confucius as constituting Holy Writ. This involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-always-easier-to-take-the-words-of-a-jesus-a-gandhi-a-marx-or-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God drove Cain out of his presence and sent him into exile far away from his native land, so that he passed from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-drove-cain-out-of-his-presence-and-sent-him-into-exile-far-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes you cain't help who you fall in love with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-cain-t-help-who-you-fall-in-love-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A poet dares be just so clear and no clearer... He unzips the veil from beauty, but does not remove it. A poet utterly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-poet-dares-be-just-so-clear-and-no-clearer-he-unzips-the-veil-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-only-one-christ-jesus-one-faith-all-else-is-a-dispute-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man of sense only trifles with them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a sprightly and forward child;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-of-sense-only-trifles-with-them-plays-with-them-humors-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Often a man endures for several years, submits and suffers the cruellest punishments, and then suddenly breaks out over some minute trifle, almost nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/often-a-man-endures-for-several-years-submits-and-suffers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is where men, even the trustiest, fail us. Their heart is never so wholly given to any matter but that some trifle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-where-men-even-the-trustiest-fail-us-their-heart-is-never-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The quest for this unwearied peace is constant and universal. Probe deeply into the teaching of Buddha, Maimonides, or a Kempis, and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-quest-for-this-unwearied-peace-is-constant-and-universal-probe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If there were two princes in Christendom who had good will and courage, it would be very easy to reconcile the religious difficulties; there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-were-two-princes-in-christendom-who-had-good-will-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If Christ has died for me, I cannot trifle with the evil that killed my best Friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-christ-has-died-for-me-i-cannot-trifle-with-the-evil-that-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Holy Writ was intended to teach men how to go to Heaven not how the heavens go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/holy-writ-was-intended-to-teach-men-how-to-go-to-heaven-not-how-the/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Cain quotes > [“WRITTEN IN PENCIL IN THE SEALED RAILWAY-CAR here in this carload i am eve with abel my son if you see my other son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pagis/written-in-pencil-in-the-sealed-railway-car-here-in-this-carload-i-am/) [Dan Pagis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pagis/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [ “He \[James Cain\] is every kind of writer I detest...a Proust in greasy overalls, a dirty little boy with a piece of chalk and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i-detest-a-proust-in-greasy/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-because-it-was-made-according-to/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [James Cain was saddled with being called the father of hardboiled fiction. Apparently, he didn't like this saddle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/james-cain-was-saddled-with-being-called-the-father-of-hardboiled/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [“Wounds that haven’t healed properly still hurt you. You pretend to allow them faze you, but I see past the mask. Shame, that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-ashby/wounds-that-haven-t-healed-properly-still-hurt-you-you-pretend-to/) [Millicent Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-ashby/) > [Let me know if Cain is able.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mckay/let-me-know-if-cain-is-able/) [John Mckay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mckay/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [This is a very violent place to live, the Earth, and we're a very violent species. Cain is still killing Abel. We see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/this-is-a-very-violent-place-to-live-the-earth-and-we-re-a-very/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“You'll never think of the old Cain and Abel battle the same way. Day's gripping, compelling, and kick-ass Eve of Darkness will have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-mcgee-causey/you-ll-never-think-of-the-old-cain-and-abel-battle-the-same-way-day-s/) [Toni McGee Causey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-mcgee-causey/) > [“We can't chose family," Cain agreed. "But we can chose our friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-folsom/we-can-t-chose-family-cain-agreed-but-we-can-chose-our-friends/) [Tina Folsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-folsom/) > [Livin' is like pourin' water out of a tumbler into a dang Coca-Cola bottle. If'n you skeered you can't do it, you cain't. If'n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-ann-burns/livin-is-like-pourin-water-out-of-a-tumbler-into-a-dang-coca-cola/) [Olive Ann Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-ann-burns/) > [“One part of my brain, soaring on adrenaline, insisted I could take Cain, whatever the size difference. Another part wondered where the hell Nick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/one-part-of-my-brain-soaring-on-adrenaline-insisted-i-could-take-cain/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Don't tell me to leave-you leave. If Obama, if Clinton, if Mittens Romney, if Rick Santorum, if Neutered Gingrich, if Herman '999 666' Cain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-celente/don-t-tell-me-to-leave-you-leave-if-obama-if-clinton-if-mittens/) [Gerald Celente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-celente/) [Browse all 183 Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would not be at all surprised to find that it was for gold that Cain committed the first murder. (It happened a very long time ago, and Holy Writ, though no doubt divinely inspired, is a trifle careless about details. 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