--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Behold the crucifix; what does it…" description: "\"Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? Pallid incompetence hanging on a tree.\" — Anton Szandor LaVey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_doe_behold-the-crucifix-what-does-it-symboli_882426.jpg" --- # Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? Pallid… ![“Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? Pallid incompetence hanging on a tree.” quote by Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_doe_behold-the-crucifix-what-does-it-symboli_882426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_doe_behold-the-crucifix-what-does-it-symboli_882426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ab/anton-szandor-lavey-2894_doe_behold-the-crucifix-what-does-it-symboli_882426.jpg) > “Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? Pallid incompetence hanging on a tree.” [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizing the crucifix as a symbol of perceived weakness and oppression. **In simple terms:** Crucifix seen as oppressive symbol. Key Takeaway Question symbols' meanings. Themes religion symbolism critique Mood provocative analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - art criticism - religious studies - personal belief systems Key Concepts iconoclasm cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What does the crucifix represent to you personally? - Can symbols be reinterpreted? A Different Perspective May alienate believers who find comfort in the symbol. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behold Crucifix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behold-crucifix-1066877/) [Crucifix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucifix/) [Crucifix Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucifix-does-1066878/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Hanging on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanging-on/) [Hanging Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanging-tree-517119/) [Incompetence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetence/) [Symbolize Pallid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolize-pallid-1066879/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [The crucifix does not signify defeat or failure. It reveals to us the Love that overcomes evil and sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-crucifix-does-not-signify-defeat-or-failure-it-reveals-to-us-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“it’s not until the third verse that “The Hanging Tree” begins to get unnerving. You realize the singer of the song is the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-not-until-the-third-verse-that-the-hanging-tree-begins-to-get/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [If bad decorating was a hanging offense, there'd be bodies hanging from every tree!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/if-bad-decorating-was-a-hanging-offense-there-d-be-bodies-hanging/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [“Instinctively I reached out and could feel that the object was a shoe; no it was a heavy boot. And then looking up, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/instinctively-i-reached-out-and-could-feel-that-the-object-was-a-shoe/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Suppresed I Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/) > [“The Hanging Tree” out loud for ten years, because it’s forbidden, but I remember every word. I begin softly, sweetly, as my father did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-hanging-tree-out-loud-for-ten-years-because-it-s-forbidden-but-i/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Maybe I'll be like that man in "The Hanging Tree'. Still waiting for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/maybe-i-ll-be-like-that-man-in-the-hanging-tree-still-waiting-for-an/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where they strung up a man they say murdered three Where the dead man called out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-where-they-strung-up-a-man-they-2/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free. Strange things did happen here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-where-i-told-you-to-run-so-we-d/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where the dead man called out for his love to flee. Strange things did happen here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-where-the-dead-man-called-out-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Are you, are you coming to the tree? Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me. Strange things did happen here. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/are-you-are-you-coming-to-the-tree-wear-a-necklace-of-rope-side-by/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“You've never seen a crucifix with a Jesus who wasn't almost naked. You've never seen a fat Jesus. Or a Jesus with body hair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-ve-never-seen-a-crucifix-with-a-jesus-who-wasn-t-almost-naked-you/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [He touched the rough crucifix that lay against his chest and whispered to the moving air, "Lord, that she might be safe, she and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/he-touched-the-rough-crucifix-that-lay-against-his-chest-and/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Alison was relieved: she would have hated to see Mary lose her dignity as well as her life. “Follow me,” said the sheriff. Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/alison-was-relieved-she-would-have-hated-to-see-mary-lose-her-dignity/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“A good horror is better than sex!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skarlett-horrors/a-good-horror-is-better-than-sex/) [Skarlett Horrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skarlett-horrors/) ## More by Anton Szandor LaVey > [There are many who would take my time. I shun them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/there-are-many-who-would-take-my-time-i-shun-them/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [After an inferior man has been taught a doctrine of superiority he will remain as inferior as he was before his lesson. He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/after-an-inferior-man-has-been-taught-a-doctrine-of-superiority-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“Satanists hear these, and similar statements, all the time; and they agree wholeheartedly. But, if the world has changed so much, why continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/satanists-hear-these-and-similar-statements-all-the-time-and-they/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I have a passion for big cats, I like big snakes. There is something about snakes that is so wise, they have this uncanny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/i-have-a-passion-for-big-cats-i-like-big-snakes-there-is-something/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The truth alone has never set anyone free. It is only DOUBT which will bring about mental emancipation. Without the wonderful element of doubt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-truth-alone-has-never-set-anyone-free-it-is-only-doubt-which-will/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [A Satanist practices the motto, If a man smite thee on one cheek, smash him on the other! Let no wrong go unredressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/a-satanist-practices-the-motto-if-a-man-smite-thee-on-one-cheek-smash/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [Satanists are encouraged to indulge in the seven deadly sins, as they need hurt no one; they were only invented by the Christian Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/satanists-are-encouraged-to-indulge-in-the-seven-deadly-sins-as-they/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The only thing Christianity ever contributed to Satanism was the name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-only-thing-christianity-ever-contributed-to-satanism-was-the-name/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [Don't let that little pyramid with the bright eye fool you. That's to draw your attention away from the real thing: the big trapezoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/don-t-let-that-little-pyramid-with-the-bright-eye-fool-you-that-s-to/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The true test of anyone's worth as a living creature is how much he can utilize what he has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-true-test-of-anyone-s-worth-as-a-living-creature-is-how-much-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I don't drink much anymore, because it's supposedly not good for me. I still have gallons of it around though. I smell the cork…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-because-it-s-supposedly-not-good-for-me-i/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [You cannot love everyone; it is ridiculous to think you can. If you love everyone and everything you lose your natural powers of selection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/you-cannot-love-everyone-it-is-ridiculous-to-think-you-can-if-you/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“Blessed are those that believe in what is best for them, for never shall their minds be terrorized- Cursed are the "lambs of God,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/blessed-are-those-that-believe-in-what-is-best-for-them-for-never/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [In this arid wilderness of steel and stone I raise up my voice that you may hear. To the East and to the West…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/in-this-arid-wilderness-of-steel-and-stone-i-raise-up-my-voice-that/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“It’s not a crime to wish for other worlds. You’ll get taxed for it but they can’t throw you in jail for creating your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/it-s-not-a-crime-to-wish-for-other-worlds-you-ll-get-taxed-for-it-but/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) [Explore all 145 Anton Szandor LaVey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) ## More Crucifix quotes > [“A good horror is better than sex!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skarlett-horrors/a-good-horror-is-better-than-sex/) [Skarlett Horrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skarlett-horrors/) > [“Alison was relieved: she would have hated to see Mary lose her dignity as well as her life. “Follow me,” said the sheriff. Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/alison-was-relieved-she-would-have-hated-to-see-mary-lose-her-dignity/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [He touched the rough crucifix that lay against his chest and whispered to the moving air, "Lord, that she might be safe, she and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/he-touched-the-rough-crucifix-that-lay-against-his-chest-and/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“You've never seen a crucifix with a Jesus who wasn't almost naked. You've never seen a fat Jesus. Or a Jesus with body hair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-ve-never-seen-a-crucifix-with-a-jesus-who-wasn-t-almost-naked-you/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Lou's was like a tour through Crucifix World with a spontaneous stop in Jesus Country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakota-cassidy/lou-s-was-like-a-tour-through-crucifix-world-with-a-spontaneous-stop/) [Dakota Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakota-cassidy/) > [“Nothing says ‘I Love Jesus’ like a plastic crucifix bought at Wal-Mart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ross/nothing-says-i-love-jesus-like-a-plastic-crucifix-bought-at-wal-mart/) [Christina Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ross/) > [Can you burn me up with holy water? Poke me to death with your crucifix? Pelt me with communion wafers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryjanice-davidson/can-you-burn-me-up-with-holy-water-poke-me-to-death-with-your/) [MaryJanice Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryjanice-davidson/) > [We are not preaching the Gospel of a dead Christ, but of a living Christ who sits exalted at the Father's right hand, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/we-are-not-preaching-the-gospel-of-a-dead-christ-but-of-a-living/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Our crucifixes exhibit the pain, but they veil, perhaps necessarily, the obscenity: but the death of the God-Man was both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/our-crucifixes-exhibit-the-pain-but-they-veil-perhaps-necessarily-the/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) > [He’s not feeling well,” Clary said, catching at Simon’s wrist. “We’re going.” “No,” Simon said. “No, I — I need to talk to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-s-not-feeling-well-clary-said-catching-at-simon-s-wrist-we-re/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Sullivan had her Crucifix Soldier and now I have mine. No. I am the soldier. Teacup is the cross.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/sullivan-had-her-crucifix-soldier-and-now-i-have-mine-no-i-am-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [The life of each and every one of us has been written. The crucifix is my autobiography. The blood is the ink. The nails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-life-of-each-and-every-one-of-us-has-been-written-the-crucifix-is/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The crucifix of singleness to Genesis meant carrying and living an empty life that had been sapped and drained of all the lifeblood it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-thrussell/the-crucifix-of-singleness-to-genesis-meant-carrying-and-living-an/) [Jill Thrussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-thrussell/) > [Because their bones are growing, they can only sleep in certain positions, obviously. The crucifix and the swastika tend to be the most popular.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/because-their-bones-are-growing-they-can-only-sleep-in-certain/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) [Browse all 42 Crucifix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucifix/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Behold the crucifix; what does it symbolize? 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