---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If nothing is holy, nothing is profane."
description: "\"“If nothing is holy, nothing is profane.”\" — Dennis Prager"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg"
---

#  If nothing is holy, nothing is profane.

![“If nothing is holy, nothing is profane.” quote by Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg)

> ““If nothing is holy, nothing is profane.””

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Argues that without a concept of the sacred, nothing can be considered profane; holiness defines the opposite.

**In simple terms:** Holiness defines profanity.

Key Takeaway

Recognize sacredness to understand profaneness.

Themes

ethics philosophy religion meaning

Mood

inquisitive analytical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- ethical decision making
- religious observance
- cultural critique
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

ontology value theory moral relativism

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes something holy for you?
- Can profane acts be meaningful without sacred contrast?

A Different Perspective

Some view morality as independent of holiness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy Profane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-profane-313711/) [Profane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profane/)

## Related quotes

> [The better proof of reverence for that holy name would be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-better-proof-of-reverence-for-that-holy-name-would-be-not-to/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“you have a habit of being quick to place people into categories of right and wrong, holy and profane, then what I hope is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lomas/you-have-a-habit-of-being-quick-to-place-people-into-categories-of/)

[David Lomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lomas/)

> [“You must also discard fixed judgments about high and low, good and evil, holy and profane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/you-must-also-discard-fixed-judgments-about-high-and-low-good-and/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [How the holy and the profane mix in the light of day and at the end of life is sometimes the most beautiful thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/how-the-holy-and-the-profane-mix-in-the-light-of-day-and-at-the-end/)

[Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/)

> [The essence of the Hebrew Bible, transmitted by Christianity, is separation: between life and death, nature and God, good and evil, man and woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-essence-of-the-hebrew-bible-transmitted-by-christianity-is/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Two of the many areas of conflict between Judeo-Christian values and leftism concern the separation between the holy and the profane and the separation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/two-of-the-many-areas-of-conflict-between-judeo-christian-values-and/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [The secret thoughts of a man run over all things, holy, profane, clean, obscene, grave, and light, without shame or blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-secret-thoughts-of-a-man-run-over-all-things-holy-profane-clean/)

[Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/)

> [The philosopher, who with calm suspicion examines the dreams and omens, the miracles and prodigies, of profane or even of ecclesiastical history, will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-philosopher-who-with-calm-suspicion-examines-the-dreams-and-omens/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [None of us like the concept of law because none of us like the restraints it puts on us. But when we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/none-of-us-like-the-concept-of-law-because-none-of-us-like-the/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [It is hereby decreed that the wall separating the sacred and the profane be toen down. From now on everything is sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-hereby-decreed-that-the-wall-separating-the-sacred-and-the/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [War is a profane thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/war-is-a-profane-thing/)

[Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/)

> [I was called really horrible, profane names very loudly in front of huge crowds of people, and my schoolwork suffered at one point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-was-called-really-horrible-profane-names-very-loudly-in-front-of/)

[Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/)

> [“love is profane, since it mortally reaches toward the heaven in ye!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/love-is-profane-since-it-mortally-reaches-toward-the-heaven-in-ye/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/)

[Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/)

> [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## More by Dennis Prager

> [It is extremely difficult to do anything constructive, let alone deep, on daily commercial television, especially on a talk show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-do-anything-constructive-let-alone-deep/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Nothing more guarantees the erosion of character than getting something for nothing. In the liberal welfare state, one develops an entitlement mentality. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/nothing-more-guarantees-the-erosion-of-character-than-getting/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [The biggest battle in life is with yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-biggest-battle-in-life-is-with-yourself/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [The Left will destroy what is good to try to make what is perfect. That is the motto of the Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-left-will-destroy-what-is-good-to-try-to-make-what-is-perfect/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [“The poor who commit murder, rape and robbery are not only not starving, they have far more material things than the word ‘poverty’ suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-poor-who-commit-murder-rape-and-robbery-are-not-only-not-starving/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [“When it comes to fighting evil, the left is almost pacifist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-it-comes-to-fighting-evil-the-left-is-almost-pacifist/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [When you are guaranteed you will win, you can take very inflammatory, very extreme positions. If you have to run in a district where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/when-you-are-guaranteed-you-will-win-you-can-take-very-inflammatory/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-not-keith-ellison-decides-what-book-a-congressman-takes-his/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [ If they \[liberals\] didn't believe we were mean spirited they couldn't stay liberal. They have to believe they mean better than us, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-they-liberals-didn-t-believe-we-were-mean-spirited-they-couldn-t/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [“From Marx until today, victim groups have played an indispensable role in Leftist success. Without victim groups, the Left cannot succeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/from-marx-until-today-victim-groups-have-played-an-indispensable-role/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Good and happy people who believe in God are the greatest living arguments for God's existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/good-and-happy-people-who-believe-in-god-are-the-greatest-living/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Leftism and narcissism are almost synonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/leftism-and-narcissism-are-almost-synonymous/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [Humility is a fantastic trait and is one of the most important things we can have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/humility-is-a-fantastic-trait-and-is-one-of-the-most-important-things/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [There is no limit to suffering human beings have been willing to inflict on others, no matter how innocent, no matter how young, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-no-limit-to-suffering-human-beings-have-been-willing-to/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

[Explore all 437 Dennis Prager quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

## More Holy quotes

> [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/)

[T.L. Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/)

> [“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/forget-about-deciding-what-s-right-for-each-other-here-s-what-you/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [The more holy, the more humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-more-holy-the-more-humble/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [In recent years my understanding of God had evolved into increasingly remote abstractions. I'd come to think of God in terms like Divine Reality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-recent-years-my-understanding-of-god-had-evolved-into-increasingly/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/)

[Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/)

> [Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians do, to take counsel together, their purpose is not ( or should not be) to ascertain what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/ideally-when-christians-meet-as-christians-do-to-take-counsel/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [“The HOLY of Holiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-of-holiness/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

[Browse all 4,265 Holy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If nothing is holy, nothing is profane.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dennis Prager"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Holy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/dennis-prager-631_holy_if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane-74_741906.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If nothing is holy, nothing is profane.” — Dennis Prager",
                "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": "Dennis Prager",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If nothing is holy, nothing is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/if-nothing-is-holy-nothing-is-profane/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
