--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is evident, from their method of…" description: "\"It is evident, from their method of propagation, that a couple of cats, in fifty years, would stock a whole kingdom; and if that religious veneration w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/david-hume-538_cases_it-is-evident-from-their-method-of-propa_1082573.jpg" --- # It is evident, from their method of propagation, that a… ![“It is evident, from their method of propagation, that a couple of cats, in fifty years, would stock a whole kingdom; and if that religious veneration were still paid them, it would, in twenty more, not only be easier in Egypt to find a god than a man, which Petronius says was the case in some…” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/david-hume-538_cases_it-is-evident-from-their-method-of-propa_1082573.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/david-hume-538_cases_it-is-evident-from-their-method-of-propa_1082573.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0e/david-hume-538_cases_it-is-evident-from-their-method-of-propa_1082573.jpg) > “It is evident, from their method of propagation, that a couple of cats, in fifty years, would stock a whole kingdom; and if that religious veneration were still paid them, it would, in twenty more, not only be easier in Egypt to find a god than a man, which Petronius says was the case in some parts of Italy; but the gods must at last entirely starve the men, and leave themselves neither priests nor votaries remaining.” [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious reverence can spread like a contagion, eventually outgrowing human control and leaving societies dependent on divine authority rather than rational governance. **In simple terms:** Blind worship can dominate societies over time. Key Takeaway Question the basis of your beliefs. Themes religion societal influence power dynamics Mood skeptical thought‑provoking Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political reform - education curricula - public discourse on secularism Key Concepts cultural evolution authority human agency Questions to Reflect On - How does belief shape social structures? - What alternatives exist to religious authority? A Different Perspective Rational critique may be dismissed by entrenched traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Veneration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veneration/) ## Related quotes > [“Petronius says that ‘Mundus vult decipi - The world wants to be deceived.’ That is very true, otherwise there wouldn’t exist any religion!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/petronius-says-that-mundus-vult-decipi-the-world-wants-to-be-deceived/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [God is whoever raised Jesus from the dead, having before raised Israel from Egypt. 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