--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When God endowed human beings with…" description: "\"When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them.\" — Baron de Montesquieu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png" --- # When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not… ![“When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them.” quote by Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png) > “When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them.” [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human intelligence is a gift, but it does not guarantee wisdom or moral behavior. **In simple terms:** Brains don’t ensure good decisions. Key Takeaway Cultivate wisdom alongside intellect. Themes philosophy human nature ethics Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - Education - Leadership - Policy making Key Concepts Reason Moral responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can we create for intelligent decisions? - How do we balance intellect and morality? A Different Perspective Intelligence can be misused without ethical grounding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) ## Related quotes > [ God . . . endowed \[the human race\] with capacity to attain to the inaccessible and invisible Supreme Good and behold it face to face . . . ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-iii/god-endowed-the-human-race-with-capacity-to-attain-to-the/) Pope Paul III > [We are social beings and our brains grow in a social environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jensen/we-are-social-beings-and-our-brains-grow-in-a-social-environment/) [Eric Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jensen/) > [The ability to conduct is a gift of God with which few have been endowed in full measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-seidl/the-ability-to-conduct-is-a-gift-of-god-with-which-few-have-been/) [Anton Seidl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-seidl/) > [“I don’t believe that the same God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect—” “—intended us to forgo their use?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-don-t-believe-that-the-same-god-who-endowed-us-with-sense-reason/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect, had intended for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-do-not-feel-obliged-to-believe-that-the-same-god-who-endowed-us/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Service is God. Why has God endowed man with a body, a mind and an intellect ? Feel with the mind, plan with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/service-is-god-why-has-god-endowed-man-with-a-body-a-mind-and-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that God has endowed men with certain inalienable rights as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and that no legislature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/i-believe-that-god-has-endowed-men-with-certain-inalienable-rights-as/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [As for my own part I care not for death, for all men are mortal; and though I be a woman yet I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/as-for-my-own-part-i-care-not-for-death-for-all-men-are-mortal-and/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [“Let me say to you sisters that you do not hold a second place in our Father's plan for the eternal happiness and well-being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/let-me-say-to-you-sisters-that-you-do-not-hold-a-second-place-in-our/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that by the mercy of God they who are endowed with true piety of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-for-human-affairs-than-that-by/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/i-do-not-feel-obliged-to-believe-that-the-same-god-who-has-endowed-us/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Brains without competitive hearts are rudderless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/brains-without-competitive-hearts-are-rudderless/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens and recite them as a lesson; but make the most of the talents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/do-not-borrow-the-productions-of-other-men-s-brains-and-pens-and/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Our brains are great at knowing what to forget. We actually have to teach computers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/our-brains-are-great-at-knowing-what-to-forget-we-actually-have-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) ## More by Baron de Montesquieu > [When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-the-savages-of-louisiana-wish-to-have-fruit-they-cut-the-tree-at/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/political-liberty-in-a-citizen-is-that-tranquillity-of-spirit-which/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [It is rare to find learned men who are clean, do not stink and have a sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/it-is-rare-to-find-learned-men-who-are-clean-do-not-stink-and-have-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Vitam Impendere Vero (I consecrate my life to truth).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/vitam-impendere-vero-i-consecrate-my-life-to-truth/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [A good writer does not write as people write, but as he writes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/a-good-writer-does-not-write-as-people-write-but-as-he-writes/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [A rational army would run away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/a-rational-army-would-run-away/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Christianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/christianity-stamped-its-character-on-jurisprudence-for-empire-has/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Trade is the best cure for prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/trade-is-the-best-cure-for-prejudice/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-prejudices-of-superstition-are-superior-to-all-others-and-have/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Republics are brought to their ends by luxury; monarchies by poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/republics-are-brought-to-their-ends-by-luxury-monarchies-by-poverty/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations derived from the nature of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/laws-in-their-most-general-signification-are-the-necessary-relations/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/politics-are-a-smooth-file-which-cuts-gradually-and-attains-its-end/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [The crime against nature will never make any great progress in society unless people are prompted to it by some particular custom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-crime-against-nature-will-never-make-any-great-progress-in/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [When a government is arrived to that degree of corruption as to be incapable of reforming itself, it would not lose much by being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-a-government-is-arrived-to-that-degree-of-corruption-as-to-be/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) [Explore all 142 Baron de Montesquieu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) ## More Brain quotes > [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/) [Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/) [Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/) [Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Baron de Montesquieu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brains-he-did-not-intend-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brains-he-did-not-intend-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/baron-de-montesquieu-3012_brain_when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brain_983292.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them.” — Baron de Montesquieu", "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": "Baron de Montesquieu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When God endowed human beings with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brains-he-did-not-intend-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-god-endowed-human-beings-with-brains-he-did-not-intend-to/#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 } } ] } ```