--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we look back into history for the…" description: "\"If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/benjamin-franklin-65_bishops_if-we-look-back-into-history-for-the-cha_2259075.png" --- # If we look back into history for the character of the… ![“If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practised it on one another.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/benjamin-franklin-65_bishops_if-we-look-back-into-history-for-the-cha_2259075.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/benjamin-franklin-65_bishops_if-we-look-back-into-history-for-the-cha_2259075.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/benjamin-franklin-65_bishops_if-we-look-back-into-history-for-the-cha_2259075.png) > “If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practised it on one another.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. History shows that groups often become oppressors of each other despite condemning persecution elsewhere. **In simple terms:** People often become what they despise. Key Takeaway Beware of repeating the same wrong you criticize. Themes hypocrisy religion power persecution Mood reflective critical Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - religious conflict - political oppression - social movements Key Concepts Historical cycles moral inconsistency Questions to Reflect On - How can we break cycles of mutual persecution? - What safeguards prevent groups from becoming oppressors? A Different Perspective Human nature tends toward repeating patterns of oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bishops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bishops/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity from founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-from-founding-fathers/) [Christians Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-thought-3272464/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church of england](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-of-england/) [Complainers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complainers/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Founding fathers anti religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers-anti-religion/) [Founding fathers christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers-christian/) [Founding fathers religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers-religion/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [New england](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-england/) [Pagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pagan/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Persecution Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution-primitive-1812711/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Primitive Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive-christians-779593/) [Protestants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protestants/) [Puritan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puritan/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sects/) [Separation of church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-church-and-state/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Wrong Pagans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-pagans-1812714/) ## Related quotes > [If we look back in history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find a few that have not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-we-look-back-in-history-for-the-character-of-the-present-sects-in/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“If we look back into history for the character of present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-franklin/if-we-look-back-into-history-for-the-character-of-present-sects-in/) [ben franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-franklin/) > [An Episcopalian divine once told the Pope that the only difference between their denominations was that "the Church of Rome is infallible and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/an-episcopalian-divine-once-told-the-pope-that-the-only-difference/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“With each new rumor, each new accusation, the way Christians thought about Jews became more and more distorted. 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One is, Preach the Gospel; and the other is--Put down enthusiasm!The Church of England in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-augusta-ward/place-before-your-eyes-two-precepts-and-two-only-one-is-preach-the/) [Mary Augusta Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-augusta-ward/) > [When I mention religion I mean the Christian religion; and not only the Christian religion, but the Protestant religion; and not only the Protestant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/when-i-mention-religion-i-mean-the-christian-religion-and-not-only/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Bishops quotes > [The good Bishop of Assisi expressed a sort of horror at the hard life which the Little Brothers lived at the Portiuncula, without comforts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-good-bishop-of-assisi-expressed-a-sort-of-horror-at-the-hard-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My last two characters have been Denethor and Walter Bishop. Both will be hard acts to follow. That sits in the hands of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-noble/my-last-two-characters-have-been-denethor-and-walter-bishop-both-will/) [John Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-noble/) > [The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, “the Church which presides in charity”, is communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-one-thing-that-the-catholic-church-desires-and-that-i-seek-as/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [And the bigger the fall, the bigger the joke. It would be better fun to throw a custard pie at a bishop than at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-the-bigger-the-fall-the-bigger-the-joke-it-would-be-better-fun-to/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. The primary reason the old idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-don-t-see-jesus-as-rescuing-the-fallen-i-see-jesus-as-expanding-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/it-was-a-blonde-a-blonde-to-make-a-bishop-kick-a-hole-in-a-stained/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. 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Storehouses are only established to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/our-bishops-storehouses-are-not-intended-to-stock-enough-commodities/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [The kids kept walking, moving through the Henley's halls like a tide, but when Kat turned to leave, she walked in the opposite directions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/the-kids-kept-walking-moving-through-the-henley-s-halls-like-a-tide/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [The Jackdaw sat in the Cardinal's chair! 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