Altars Quote by Don Marquis
“As the skull of the man grows broader, so do his creeds. And his gods they are shaped in his image and mirror his needs. And he clothes them with thunders and beauty, He clothes them with music and fire, Seeing not, as he bows by their altars, That he worships his own desire.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unknown, attributed to Don Marquis
The quote suggests that as a person's mind expands, so do the beliefs and deities they create, reflecting personal desires and needs.
In simple terms: People shape gods and beliefs to match their own desires.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how personal bias shapes belief systems.
Themes
philosophy
religion
psychology
identity
power
Mood
contemplative
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- theological study
- cultural analysis
- creative writing
- self‑examination
Key Concepts
anthropology
symbolism
ego
projection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your own desires influence the beliefs you hold?
- Can we separate personal bias from collective faith?
A Different Perspective
It may overgeneralize complex cultural development to individual ego.
![“He [the miser] falls down and worships the god of this world, but will have neither its pomps, its vanities nor its pleasures for his trouble.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/091/charles-caleb-colton-270_down-and_he-the-miser-falls-down-and-worships-the_569127.jpg)
