--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you live in a society like ours, in…" description: "\"“If you live in a society like ours, in which people seldom object if they hear someone taking the Lord's name in vain but are outraged if they see a p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/david-brooks-644_values_if-you-live-in-a-society-like-ours-in-wh_1107346.png" --- # If you live in a society like ours, in which people seldom… ![“If you live in a society like ours, in which people seldom object if they hear someone taking the Lord's name in vain but are outraged if they see a pregnant woman smoking, then you are living in a world that values the worldly more than the divine.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/david-brooks-644_values_if-you-live-in-a-society-like-ours-in-wh_1107346.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/david-brooks-644_values_if-you-live-in-a-society-like-ours-in-wh_1107346.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/david-brooks-644_values_if-you-live-in-a-society-like-ours-in-wh_1107346.png) > ““If you live in a society like ours, in which people seldom object if they hear someone taking the Lord's name in vain but are outraged if they see a pregnant woman smoking, then you are living in a world that values the worldly more than the divine.”” [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society often condemns minor moral lapses while ignoring serious harms, showing misplaced priorities. **In simple terms:** People focus on trivial offenses over serious issues. Key Takeaway Reevaluate what truly matters. Themes morality societal values hypocrisy Mood critical reflective Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - public discourse - media criticism - personal relationships Key Concepts ethical priorities cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What values do you prioritize in judging others? - How can we shift focus to more harmful behaviors? A Different Perspective It may overlook cultural context where language and smoking have different impacts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pregnant Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pregnant-woman/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“In a universe where all values have been shattered, where religions and histories and literatures and social structures have lost their meaning, man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jud-newborn-annette-dumbach/in-a-universe-where-all-values-have-been-shattered-where-religions/) Jud Newborn & Annette Dumbach > [The anniversary of 9/11 must always serve as an example to the great tenaciousness of the American people; as a nation, we must always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-luckett/the-anniversary-of-9-11-must-always-serve-as-an-example-to-the-great/) [Johnny Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-luckett/) > [A world where people do not care about the quality of their experience is not a good world for Apple. 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