--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think how great a proportion of mankind…" description: "\"Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced youth of both sexes, who have need of the mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/benjamin-franklin-65_character_think-how-great-a-proportion-of-mankind_1912613.png" --- # Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak… ![“Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the pract” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/benjamin-franklin-65_character_think-how-great-a-proportion-of-mankind_1912613.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/benjamin-franklin-65_character_think-how-great-a-proportion-of-mankind_1912613.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/benjamin-franklin-65_character_think-how-great-a-proportion-of-mankind_1912613.png) > “Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the pract” [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. Human nature includes many weak, ignorant, and inexperienced individuals who rely on religious motives to curb vice and support virtue. **In simple terms:** Many people need religion to guide behavior. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of moral frameworks in society. Themes human nature morality religion vice virtue Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - Education reform - community programs - faith-based initiatives - personal development Key Concepts Social control ethical guidance cultural influence Questions to Reflect On - How can secular systems replace religious restraint? - What alternatives exist for moral guidance? A Different Perspective Religious motivation may not address all ethical issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Motives Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motives-religion-1351099/) [Proportion Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion-mankind-2890405/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Restrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-restrain-2890404/) [Sexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexes/) [Weak Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-ignorant-1524486/) [Youth Sexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth-sexes-2890406/) ## Related quotes > [If religion cannot restrain evil, it cannot claim effective power for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-raphael-cohen/if-religion-cannot-restrain-evil-it-cannot-claim-effective-power-for/) [Morris Raphael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-raphael-cohen/) > [It is pathetic to observe how lowly the motives are that religion, even the highest, attributes to the deity... To be given the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/it-is-pathetic-to-observe-how-lowly-the-motives-are-that-religion/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Yes, my dear children, everything is good and precious in God's sight when we act from the motives of religion and of charity because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vianney/yes-my-dear-children-everything-is-good-and-precious-in-god-s-sight/) [John Vianney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vianney/) > [“He's weak and ignorant, scared of the way consequences of an action leap away from your control and breed new events, new consequences, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-s-weak-and-ignorant-scared-of-the-way-consequences-of-an-action/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [People who do drugs seem so weak and ignorant.They don't know the value of life, lack self control and will let their peers control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-do-drugs-seem-so-weak-and-ignorant-they-don-t-know-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [History teaches us that whenever a weak and ignorant people possess a thing which a strong and enlightened people want, it must be yielded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/history-teaches-us-that-whenever-a-weak-and-ignorant-people-possess-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“The character of Aristophanes suggested that humans once had three sexes: man, woman, and man-woman. 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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 Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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