--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was young, I asked my priest how…" description: "\"When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to Heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God said to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/casey-affleck-3849_children_when-i-was-young-i-asked-my-priest-how-y_1840946.jpg" --- # When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to… ![“When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to Heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God said to his children. You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves.” quote by Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/casey-affleck-3849_children_when-i-was-young-i-asked-my-priest-how-y_1840946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/casey-affleck-3849_children_when-i-was-young-i-asked-my-priest-how-y_1840946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/casey-affleck-3849_children_when-i-was-young-i-asked-my-priest-how-y_1840946.jpg) > “When I was young, I asked my priest how you could get to Heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world. He told me what God said to his children. You are sheep among wolves. Be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves.” [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote juxtaposes spiritual guidance with a biblical metaphor, urging wisdom and innocence to navigate a hostile world. **In simple terms:** Be wise yet innocent in a dangerous world. Key Takeaway Balance shrewdness with purity. Themes wisdom innocence spirituality Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - leadership - risk management Key Concepts biblical metaphor ethical guidance Questions to Reflect On - How can you act wisely without losing innocence? - When does innocence become naiveté? A Different Perspective The advice may oversimplify complex moral dilemmas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When I was young, I asked my priest how to get to heaven and still protect yourself from all the evil in the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/when-i-was-young-i-asked-my-priest-how-to-get-to-heaven-and-still/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [You wanna hear something funny? There was a man who was drowning, and a boat came, and the man on the boat said Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-wanna-hear-something-funny-there-was-a-man-who-was-drowning-and-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I asked my priest if it was a sin to play golf on Sunday. And he said, "It's a sin for you to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-asked-my-priest-if-it-was-a-sin-to-play-golf-on-sunday-and-he-said/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [“People like mystery. They want nothing explained, because when things are explained then there is no hope left. I have seen folk dying and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/people-like-mystery-they-want-nothing-explained-because-when-things/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [On his deathbed he asked for a priest and became a Catholic. That was his wife's religion. It was his own business and none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/on-his-deathbed-he-asked-for-a-priest-and-became-a-catholic-that-was/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“I asked him why he was a priest, and he said if you have to work for anyone, an absentee boss is best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-asked-him-why-he-was-a-priest-and-he-said-if-you-have-to-work-for/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“Where’s your bowstrings?’ Thomas asked, for the priest had neither helmet nor cap. ‘I looped them round my…well, never mind. It has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/where-s-your-bowstrings-thomas-asked-for-the-priest-had-neither/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [“The most important question I ever asked a priest was where are the Bingo Dobbers at?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stabley-victor-paskavich/the-most-important-question-i-ever-asked-a-priest-was-where-are-the/) Stabley Victor Paskavich > [“Bell Protection Spell Bells protect against evil. Their ringing causes many malicious spirits to flee and they are thus a primary component of exorcism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judika-illes/bell-protection-spell-bells-protect-against-evil-their-ringing-causes/) Judika Illes > [You are my sword I am your shield. I save you from monsters You protect me from evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-wade/you-are-my-sword-i-am-your-shield-i-save-you-from-monsters-you/) Shelby Wade > [I knew you don't deserve me but I was there to protect you from evil but you didn't hear me. In fact, gossip about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-knew-you-don-t-deserve-me-but-i-was-there-to-protect-you-from-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The best way to protect evil, to deny it existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicdo/the-best-way-to-protect-evil-to-deny-it-existence/) VicDo > [“If it’s in order to protect you, I will become evil for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-s-in-order-to-protect-you-i-will-become-evil-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be good to others, that will protect you against evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakr/be-good-to-others-that-will-protect-you-against-evil/) [Abu Bakr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakr/) > [...once again we face a paradox, for it appears that softening your heart and gently tending its wounds will protect you from evil. Building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/once-again-we-face-a-paradox-for-it-appears-that-softening-your-heart/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More by Casey Affleck > [Talking to other people about a part is not helpful for me. It's such an internal and complicated and still kind of mysterious process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/talking-to-other-people-about-a-part-is-not-helpful-for-me-it-s-such/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [Most calves used by the dairy industry have their horns BURNED or GOUGED out of their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/most-calves-used-by-the-dairy-industry-have-their-horns-burned-or/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [When people ask me why I don't eat meat or any other animal products, I say, 'Because they are unhealthy and they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/when-people-ask-me-why-i-don-t-eat-meat-or-any-other-animal-products/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [Sometimes being an actor is kind of demanding in very different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/sometimes-being-an-actor-is-kind-of-demanding-in-very-different-ways/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [After I left LA... it was like waking up. And so I moved back east and stopped auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/after-i-left-la-it-was-like-waking-up-and-so-i-moved-back-east-and/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [My aim was not to fool. My aim was to provoke thought and stir emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/my-aim-was-not-to-fool-my-aim-was-to-provoke-thought-and-stir-emotion/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [I don't really care that much about being a matinee idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-don-t-really-care-that-much-about-being-a-matinee-idol/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [I get very sentimental, I get very nostalgic, and when I live in a place, I instantly put down way too many roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-get-very-sentimental-i-get-very-nostalgic-and-when-i-live-in-a/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [Truth is, there's never really been anything so horrible said about me that I haven't either thought of or said to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/truth-is-there-s-never-really-been-anything-so-horrible-said-about-me/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [Some people go to their job. That's the job they have; they have to do it. They hate their boss and their coworkers, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/some-people-go-to-their-job-that-s-the-job-they-have-they-have-to-do/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [Chickens, cows, and pigs in factory farms spend their whole lives in filthy, cramped conditions, only to die a prolonged and painful death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/chickens-cows-and-pigs-in-factory-farms-spend-their-whole-lives-in/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [All cultures are different. Some commit genocide. Some are uniquely peaceful. Some frequent bathhouses in groups. Some don't show each other the soles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/all-cultures-are-different-some-commit-genocide-some-are-uniquely/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [If you show up in L.A. with your shirt inside out or socks mismatched, people start putting change in your cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/if-you-show-up-in-l-a-with-your-shirt-inside-out-or-socks-mismatched/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [I knew it would be hard work, but that's the reason you're an actor. If you're a bricklayer, you don't want to just show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-knew-it-would-be-hard-work-but-that-s-the-reason-you-re-an-actor-if/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [I feel like whenever I do a movie, people think, 'Well, that's good, but that's probably the best he'll do.' I sort of bang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/i-feel-like-whenever-i-do-a-movie-people-think-well-that-s-good-but/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) [Explore all 121 Casey Affleck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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