--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [St. Patrick] was a terror to any snake…" description: "\"[St. Patrick] was a terror to any snake that came in his path, whether it was the cold, slimy reptile sliding along the ground or the more dangerous sn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/arthur-brisbane-27401_brutality_st-patrick-was-a-terror-to-any-snake-tha_2682719.png" --- # \[St. Patrick\] was a terror to any snake that came in his… ![“[St. Patrick] was a terror to any snake that came in his path, whether it was the cold, slimy reptile sliding along the ground or the more dangerous snake that oppresses men through false teachings. And he drove the snakes out of the minds of men, snakes of superstition and brutality and cruelty.” quote by Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/arthur-brisbane-27401_brutality_st-patrick-was-a-terror-to-any-snake-tha_2682719.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/arthur-brisbane-27401_brutality_st-patrick-was-a-terror-to-any-snake-tha_2682719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d06/arthur-brisbane-27401_brutality_st-patrick-was-a-terror-to-any-snake-tha_2682719.png) > “\[St. Patrick\] was a terror to any snake that came in his path, whether it was the cold, slimy reptile sliding along the ground or the more dangerous snake that oppresses men through false teachings. And he drove the snakes out of the minds of men, snakes of superstition and brutality and cruelty.” [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. St. Patrick’s myth portrays him as a force against harmful snakes—both literal and metaphorical—symbolizing the fight against superstition and cruelty. **In simple terms:** Combat harmful beliefs and cruelty. Key Takeaway Stand against superstition and oppression. Themes mythology spiritual warfare truth Mood cautionary inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - religious reform - education - activism Key Concepts symbolic snakes false teachings social reform Questions to Reflect On - What modern “snakes” threaten society? - How can we “drive out” harmful ideas? A Different Perspective Over‑literal interpretation may miss nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous Snake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-snake-2594627/) [Drove Snakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drove-snakes-1548115/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Reptiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reptiles/) [Snake Oppresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snake-oppresses-2594626/) [Snakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snakes/) [Snakes Superstition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snakes-superstition-2594625/) [St patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/st-patrick/) [Superstition Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstition-brutality-2594628/) [Superstitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstitions/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) ## Related quotes > [I do identify with St. Patrick, not just in name. 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I'm lucky sevens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-m-irish-and-i-was-born-on-st-patrick-s-day-i-m-lucky-sevens/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I wish you a very sweet and Happy St. Patrick's Day. May God bless you with loads of luck, joy and prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-you-a-very-sweet-and-happy-st-patrick-s-day-may-god-bless-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“St Patrick was a Roman Briton of good family dwelling probably in the Severn valley.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-s-churchill/st-patrick-was-a-roman-briton-of-good-family-dwelling-probably-in-the/) [Winston S. Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-s-churchill/) > [Luck, Prosperity. Friends & Beer!!! Wishing you a Happy St.Patrick's Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/luck-prosperity-friends-beer-wishing-you-a-happy-st-patrick-s-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“For that sun, which we see rising every day, rises at His command… - Greg Tobin, The Wisdom of St. Patrick from St. Patrick’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-patrick/for-that-sun-which-we-see-rising-every-day-rises-at-his-command-greg/) [St. Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-patrick/) > [On this day, millions of people...throughout the world will gather to commemorate the life of Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. From his days as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-this-day-millions-of-people-throughout-the-world-will-gather-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It saddens me to think this may be the first St. Patrick's Day I won't be urinating in public with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-saddens-me-to-think-this-may-be-the-first-st-patrick-s-day-i-won-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We will live to see the day that St. Patrick's Cathedral is a child-care center and the pope is no longer a disgrace to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/we-will-live-to-see-the-day-that-st-patrick-s-cathedral-is-a-child/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More by Arthur Brisbane > [Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/regret-for-time-wasted-can-become-a-power-for-good-in-the-time-that/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Among the aimless, unsuccessful or worthless, you often hear talk about 'killing time.' 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The way to hunt for more is to utilize your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/while-the-fool-is-enjoying-the-little-he-has-i-will-hunt-for-more-the/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Every minute that you save by making it useful, more profitable, is so much added to your life and its possibilities. Every minute lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/every-minute-that-you-save-by-making-it-useful-more-profitable-is-so/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Hang your idea on a peg that all can read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/hang-your-idea-on-a-peg-that-all-can-read/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Time is the one thing we possess. Our success depends upon the use of our time, and its by-product, the odd moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/time-is-the-one-thing-we-possess-our-success-depends-upon-the-use-of/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [A newspaper is a mirror reflecting the public, a mirror more or less defective, but still a mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/a-newspaper-is-a-mirror-reflecting-the-public-a-mirror-more-or-less/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/use-a-picture-it-s-worth-a-thousand-words/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) > [Get away from the crowd when you can. Keep yourself to yourself, if only for a few hours daily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-brisbane/get-away-from-the-crowd-when-you-can-keep-yourself-to-yourself-if/) [Arthur Brisbane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) [Explore all 20 Arthur Brisbane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-brisbane/) ## More Brutality quotes > [All women love semi-rape. 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Some of you have come fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-not-unmindful-that-some-of-you-have-come-here-out-of-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-horse-laugh-indicates-brutality-of-character/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The Negroes of America had taken the President, the press and the pulpit at their word when they spoke in broad terms of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negroes-of-america-had-taken-the-president-the-press-and-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I see myself capable of arrogance and brutality... That's a fierce thing, to discover within yourself that which you despise the most in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stevens/i-see-myself-capable-of-arrogance-and-brutality-that-s-a-fierce-thing/) [George Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stevens/) > [The very opposite of freedom is cliche, and nothing is less free, more inert with convention and hollow brutality, than a row of four-letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/the-very-opposite-of-freedom-is-cliche-and-nothing-is-less-free-more/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [I can tell you countless instances of this country's history of brutality, of inequity, of heartlessness. 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