--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever a man prefers to God, that he…" description: "\"Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.\" — Cyprian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg" --- # Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to… ![“Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.” quote by Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg) > “Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.” [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) ## 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 warns that personal preferences can elevate a human to a godlike status, implying hubris and self‑deification. **In simple terms:** Choosing what you love can make you think you are godlike. Key Takeaway Beware of elevating personal desires to divine status. Themes hubris self‑deification humility spirituality Mood reflective cautious Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - leadership - religious practice - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts theology psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever treat your preferences as ultimate truth? - How can humility balance personal desire? A Different Perspective It may ignore the value of communal guidance and humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-makes/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Makes God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-god-784447/) [Man Prefers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-prefers-641746/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prefers God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefers-god-5521253/) ## Related quotes > [“God is what God makes as God becomes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sondra-sneed/god-is-what-god-makes-as-god-becomes/) [Sondra Sneed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sondra-sneed/) > [I cannot understand how God can give to any of His children glory and virtue, but it nevertheless is true that He does… There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/i-cannot-understand-how-god-can-give-to-any-of-his-children-glory-and/) [Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/) > [Man makes god in his own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-makes-god-in-his-own-image/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The critic is a man who prefers the indolence of opinion to the trials of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mason-brown/the-critic-is-a-man-who-prefers-the-indolence-of-opinion-to-the/) [John Mason Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mason-brown/) > [The man who prefers not be taken seriously is often times the same who rues being taken for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-who-prefers-not-be-taken-seriously-is-often-times-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every man prefers virtue, when there is not some strong incitement to transgress its precepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-prefers-virtue-when-there-is-not-some-strong-incitement-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The man who prefers his country before any other duty shows the same spirit as the man who surrenders every right to the state.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-man-who-prefers-his-country-before-any-other-duty-shows-the-same/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Every man prefers belief to the exercise of judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-prefers-belief-to-the-exercise-of-judgment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My man prefers meat over the bone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-man-prefers-meat-over-the-bone/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [When the man was disgraced and told to go away, he was allowed to ask all the animals whether any of them would come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/when-the-man-was-disgraced-and-told-to-go-away-he-was-allowed-to-ask/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Every man prefers to look at a well-shaped woman instead of a rubber ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katarina-witt/every-man-prefers-to-look-at-a-well-shaped-woman-instead-of-a-rubber/) [Katarina Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katarina-witt/) > [Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/man-prefers-to-believe-what-he-prefers-to-be-true/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Knowledge enormous makes a god of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/knowledge-enormous-makes-a-god-of-me/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Religious teachings and teachers have conditioned us to think of faith as a magic catalyst that makes God work for us. In no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/religious-teachings-and-teachers-have-conditioned-us-to-think-of/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) ## More by Cyprian > [The wretched bodies of the condemned shall simmer and blaze in those living fires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/the-wretched-bodies-of-the-condemned-shall-simmer-and-blaze-in-those/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [Knowing that there is one Baptism, we who hold the head and root of the One Church know for certain that to him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/knowing-that-there-is-one-baptism-we-who-hold-the-head-and-root-of/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/it-is-a-bad-world-donatus-an-incredibly-bad-world-but-i-have/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > ["If any man thirst, let him come and drink from the rivers of living water" (cf. John 7:38). Where shall he who thirsts come?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/if-any-man-thirst-let-him-come-and-drink-from-the-rivers-of-living/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [For the helmsman is recognized in the tempest; in the warfare the soldier is proved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/for-the-helmsman-is-recognized-in-the-tempest-in-the-warfare-the/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [Murder, considered a crime when people commit it singly, is transformed into a virtue when they do it en masse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/murder-considered-a-crime-when-people-commit-it-singly-is-transformed/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [Men imitate the gods whom they adore, and to such miserable beings their crimes become their religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/men-imitate-the-gods-whom-they-adore-and-to-such-miserable-beings/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [The world is going mad in mutual extermination, and murder, considered as a crime when committed individually, becomes a virtue when it is committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/the-world-is-going-mad-in-mutual-extermination-and-murder-considered/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [ As to what pertains to the case of infants: You \[Fidus\] said that they ought not to be baptized within the second or third… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/as-to-what-pertains-to-the-case-of-infants-you-fidus-said-that-they/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [Custom is often only the antiquity of error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/custom-is-often-only-the-antiquity-of-error/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [ Be constantly committed to prayer or to reading \[Scripture\]; by praying, you speak to God, in reading, God speaks to you. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/be-constantly-committed-to-prayer-or-to-reading-scripture-by-praying/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [If a murder is committed privately it is considered a crime. But if it happens with the authority of the state, they call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/if-a-murder-is-committed-privately-it-is-considered-a-crime-but-if-it/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [This supernatural bread and this consecrated chalice are for the health and salvation of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/this-supernatural-bread-and-this-consecrated-chalice-are-for-the/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [No one is strong in his own strength, but he is safe by the grace and mercy of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/no-one-is-strong-in-his-own-strength-but-he-is-safe-by-the-grace-and/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) > [ He \[Christ\] protects their faith and gives strength to believers in proportion to the trust that each man who receives that strength is willing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/he-christ-protects-their-faith-and-gives-strength-to-believers-in/) [Cyprian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) [Explore all 41 Cyprian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cyprian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-makes-a-god-to-himself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-makes-a-god-to-himself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/cyprian-16127_god_whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-ma_2316362.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself.” — Cyprian", "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": "Cyprian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyprian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whatever a man prefers to God,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-makes-a-god-to-himself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyprian/whatever-a-man-prefers-to-god-that-he-makes-a-god-to-himself/#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 } } ] } ```