--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know what they say: if God had been a…" description: "\"You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/anonymous-1_commandments_you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a_25986.jpg" --- # You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we… ![“You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/anonymous-1_commandments_you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a_25986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/anonymous-1_commandments_you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a_25986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/anonymous-1_commandments_you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a_25986.jpg) > “You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions” [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. Satirically contrasts religious absolutism with liberal relativism, implying that a liberal deity would issue flexible advice rather than rigid rules. **In simple terms:** Critique of dogma vs. flexibility Key Takeaway Dogma limits, flexibility empowers Themes Religion Politics Humor Philosophy Critique Mood Wry Ironic Thoughtful Type Satire Political commentary Philosophical observation When to use this quote - Debates on religious law - Political discourse on liberalism - Satirical commentary - Cultural criticism Key Concepts Absolutism Relativism Authority Moral flexibility Practical Applications - Political satire - Philosophical discussion Questions to Reflect On - Does flexibility always lead to better outcomes? - How does dogma shape societal norms? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ten commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-commandments/) ## Related quotes > [If God had been a liberal, we wouldn't have had the Ten Commandments - we'd have the Ten Suggestions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-bradbury/if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had-the-ten-commandments/) [Malcolm Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-bradbury/) > [“For those of us who remember dial telephones and manual typewriters, today’s technology is more than merely amazing. Also evolving at a rapid rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/for-those-of-us-who-remember-dial-telephones-and-manual-typewriters/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [They're the Ten Commandments, not the Ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-re-the-ten-commandments-not-the-ten-suggestions/) [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/) > [“If I could go back to a point in history to try to get things to come out differently, I would go back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-could-go-back-to-a-point-in-history-to-try-to-get-things-to-come/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The real reason that we can’t have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse: You cannot post “Thou shalt not steal,” “Thou shalt not commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-reason-that-we-can-t-have-the-ten-commandments-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments, they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-men-will-not-be-governed-by-the-ten-commandments-they-shall-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God, who is liberal in all his other gifts, shows us, by the wise economy of His providence, how circumspect we ought to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/god-who-is-liberal-in-all-his-other-gifts-shows-us-by-the-wise/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [God is liberal of color; so should man be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/god-is-liberal-of-color-so-should-man-be/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [When you hear people demanding that the Ten Commandments be displayed in courtrooms and schoolrooms, always be sure to ask which set. It works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/when-you-hear-people-demanding-that-the-ten-commandments-be-displayed/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ The Law given from Sinai \[The Ten Commandments\] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-law-given-from-sinai-the-ten-commandments-was-a-civil-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“ The Ten Commandments As Interpreted by Robin Palmetier 1. Don’t lie. Unless it’s to the police. 2. Don’t cheat your customers. Robin always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/the-ten-commandments-as-interpreted-by-robin-palmetier-1-don-t-lie/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) ## 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 Commandments quotes > [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/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [“You do not need commandments to tell you what is right and wrong, you need reason. YOU NEED TO THINK. What are the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kassandra-dick/you-do-not-need-commandments-to-tell-you-what-is-right-and-wrong-you/) Kassandra Dick > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In tantra we don't believe in commandments. We believe in the moment and the truth that is applicable for that moment, as best we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-tantra-we-don-t-believe-in-commandments-we-believe-in-the-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [ “the precepts of an absolutely perfect life, since they are the same in each Testament, have pointed out \[to us\] the same God, who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-precepts-of-an-absolutely-perfect-life-since-they-are-the-same-in/) The Church Fathers > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/) Thomas Morell > [“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-fortner/take-care-lest-you-forget-the-lord-your-god-by-not-keeping-his/) [Michael D. Fortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-fortner/) > [The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Browse all 726 Commandments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. 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