Sides Quote by Charles-Louis de Secondat, de la Brède et de Montesquieu
““If triangles made a god, they would give him three sides.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Persian Letters by Montesquieu, 1721
The quote satirizes anthropomorphism, arguing that any being describes God in its own image, as triangles would give their deity three sides.
In simple terms: We imagine God like ourselves.
Key Takeaway
Notice how your beliefs reflect your own perspective.
Themes
anthropomorphism
religion
perspective
skepticism
Mood
witty
ironic
thought-provoking
Type
satirical
philosophical
aphorism
When to use this quote
- interfaith discussion
- critical thinking
- examining assumptions
Key Concepts
projection
human-centered bias
religious critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What traits do you project onto the divine?
- Is it possible to describe God without human frames?
A Different Perspective
It oversimplifies complex theology and ignores the role of symbolism.
