---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paganism is infectious, more infectious…"
description: "\"Paganism is infectious, more infectious than diphtheria or piety.\" — E. M. Forster"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png"
---

#  Paganism is infectious, more infectious than diphtheria or…

![“Paganism is infectious, more infectious than diphtheria or piety.” quote by E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png)

> “Paganism is infectious, more infectious than diphtheria or piety.”

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

## About This Quote

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

Paganism spreads ideas rapidly, more contagious than disease or religious devotion.

**In simple terms:** Paganism spreads quickly.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how ideas propagate.

Themes

belief contagion culture

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- religious movements
- social media
- cultural shifts
- public health

Key Concepts

sociology memetics

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes a belief spread?
- How does modern media compare?

A Different Perspective

Contagion metaphor may oversimplify complex belief systems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Diphtheria Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diphtheria-piety-1900195/) [Infectious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infectious/) [Paganism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paganism/) [Paganism Infectious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paganism-infectious-1900194/) [Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety/)

## Related quotes

> [Pathos, piety, courage, they exist, but are identical, and so is filth. Everything exists, nothing has value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/pathos-piety-courage-they-exist-but-are-identical-and-so-is-filth/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [The scientific community should work as hard as possible to address major issues that affect our everyday lives such as climate change, infectious diseases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-scientific-community-should-work-as-hard-as-possible-to-address/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [Regional clustering of specific cancer types triggered some investigations on a potential role of infectious agents in these malignant proliferations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harald-zur-hausen/regional-clustering-of-specific-cancer-types-triggered-some/)

[Harald zur Hausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harald-zur-hausen/)

> [“Infectious smile has infected tears The laughter strikes with spears I am not dear and they are not sincere Feeling fear I must perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-cecile/infectious-smile-has-infected-tears-the-laughter-strikes-with-spears/)

[Louis Cecile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-cecile/)

> [Joy is very infectious; therefore, be always full of joy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-very-infectious-therefore-be-always-full-of-joy/)

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

> [Germ theory, which secularized infectious disease, had a side effect: it sacralized epidemiology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/germ-theory-which-secularized-infectious-disease-had-a-side-effect-it/)

[Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/)

> [When I was doing 'Executive Orders,' I talked about Ebola to people who know about infectious diseases and their use as weapons of war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/when-i-was-doing-executive-orders-i-talked-about-ebola-to-people-who/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [Yawns are not the only infectious things out there besides germs. Giggles can spread from person to person. So can blushing. But maybe the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/yawns-are-not-the-only-infectious-things-out-there-besides-germs/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [If anti-Semitism is a variety of racism, it is a most peculiar variety, with many unique characteristics. In my view as a historian, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/if-anti-semitism-is-a-variety-of-racism-it-is-a-most-peculiar-variety/)

[Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/)

> [With infectious disease, without vaccines, there's no safety in numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/with-infectious-disease-without-vaccines-there-s-no-safety-in-numbers/)

[Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/)

> [They say cowardice is infectious; but then argument is, on the other hand, a great emboldener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-cowardice-is-infectious-but-then-argument-is-on-the-other/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Love is infectious. You know, God is infectious-God flowing through us and us being little-baby creators and s--. But His energy and His love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/love-is-infectious-you-know-god-is-infectious-god-flowing-through-us/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [New vaccines are being developed all the time, which could save many more lives and dramatically improve people's health. And this goes beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/new-vaccines-are-being-developed-all-the-time-which-could-save-many/)

[Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/)

> [Laughter is an interior convulsion, producing a distortion of the features and accompanied by inarticulate noises. It is infectious and, though intermittent, incurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/laughter-is-an-interior-convulsion-producing-a-distortion-of-the/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [I think the best way to explain my brother is that he's infectious and everybody falls in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/i-think-the-best-way-to-explain-my-brother-is-that-he-s-infectious/)

[A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/)

## More by E. M. Forster

> [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Reverence is fatal to literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/reverence-is-fatal-to-literature/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [This element of surprise or mystery - the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called - is of great importance in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/this-element-of-surprise-or-mystery-the-detective-element-as-it-is/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [It is so difficult - at least, I find it difficult - to understand people who speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-so-difficult-at-least-i-find-it-difficult-to-understand-people/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/railway-termini-are-our-gates-to-the-glorious-and-the-unknown/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Ah, but you see, I didn't want to be fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/ah-but-you-see-i-didn-t-want-to-be-fair/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/the-final-test-for-a-novel-will-be-our-affection-for-it-as-it-is-the/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [America is rather like life. You can usually find in it what you look for It will probably be interesting, and it is sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/america-is-rather-like-life-you-can-usually-find-in-it-what-you-look/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [A critic has no right to the narrowness which is the frequent prerogative of the creative artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/a-critic-has-no-right-to-the-narrowness-which-is-the-frequent/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [All men are equal — all men, that is to say, who possess umbrellas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/all-men-are-equal-all-men-that-is-to-say-who-possess-umbrellas/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Before the civil war, Pottibakia was a normal member of the Comity of Nations. She erected tariff walls, broke treaties, persecuted minorities, obstructed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/before-the-civil-war-pottibakia-was-a-normal-member-of-the-comity-of/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Chess is a forcing house where the fruits of character can ripen more fully than in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/chess-is-a-forcing-house-where-the-fruits-of-character-can-ripen-more/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [I distrust Great Men... I believe in aristocracy, though... Its members are to be found in all nations and classes, and all through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/i-distrust-great-men-i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-its-members-are/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [Liking one person is an extra reason for liking another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/liking-one-person-is-an-extra-reason-for-liking-another/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

> [We are not concerned with the very poor. They are unthinkable, and only to be approached by the statistician or the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/we-are-not-concerned-with-the-very-poor-they-are-unthinkable-and-only/)

[E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

[Explore all 287 E. M. Forster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/)

## More Infectious quotes

> [I think the best way to explain my brother is that he's infectious and everybody falls in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/i-think-the-best-way-to-explain-my-brother-is-that-he-s-infectious/)

[A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/)

> [Laughter is an interior convulsion, producing a distortion of the features and accompanied by inarticulate noises. It is infectious and, though intermittent, incurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/laughter-is-an-interior-convulsion-producing-a-distortion-of-the/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [New vaccines are being developed all the time, which could save many more lives and dramatically improve people's health. And this goes beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/new-vaccines-are-being-developed-all-the-time-which-could-save-many/)

[Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/)

> [Love is infectious. You know, God is infectious-God flowing through us and us being little-baby creators and s--. But His energy and His love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/love-is-infectious-you-know-god-is-infectious-god-flowing-through-us/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [They say cowardice is infectious; but then argument is, on the other hand, a great emboldener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-cowardice-is-infectious-but-then-argument-is-on-the-other/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [With infectious disease, without vaccines, there's no safety in numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/with-infectious-disease-without-vaccines-there-s-no-safety-in-numbers/)

[Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/)

> [If anti-Semitism is a variety of racism, it is a most peculiar variety, with many unique characteristics. In my view as a historian, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/if-anti-semitism-is-a-variety-of-racism-it-is-a-most-peculiar-variety/)

[Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/)

> [Yawns are not the only infectious things out there besides germs. Giggles can spread from person to person. So can blushing. But maybe the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/yawns-are-not-the-only-infectious-things-out-there-besides-germs/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [When I was doing 'Executive Orders,' I talked about Ebola to people who know about infectious diseases and their use as weapons of war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/when-i-was-doing-executive-orders-i-talked-about-ebola-to-people-who/)

[Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/)

> [Germ theory, which secularized infectious disease, had a side effect: it sacralized epidemiology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/germ-theory-which-secularized-infectious-disease-had-a-side-effect-it/)

[Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/)

> [Joy is very infectious; therefore, be always full of joy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-very-infectious-therefore-be-always-full-of-joy/)

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

> [“Infectious smile has infected tears The laughter strikes with spears I am not dear and they are not sincere Feeling fear I must perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-cecile/infectious-smile-has-infected-tears-the-laughter-strikes-with-spears/)

[Louis Cecile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-cecile/)

> [Regional clustering of specific cancer types triggered some investigations on a potential role of infectious agents in these malignant proliferations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harald-zur-hausen/regional-clustering-of-specific-cancer-types-triggered-some/)

[Harald zur Hausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harald-zur-hausen/)

> [The scientific community should work as hard as possible to address major issues that affect our everyday lives such as climate change, infectious diseases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-scientific-community-should-work-as-hard-as-possible-to-address/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [I love living. I think that's infectious, it's something you can't fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-love-living-i-think-that-s-infectious-it-s-something-you-can-t-fake/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

[Browse all 63 Infectious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infectious/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Paganism is infectious, more infectious than diphtheria or piety.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "E. M. Forster"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-than-diphtheria-or-piety/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Infectious"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-than-diphtheria-or-piety/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/e-m-forster-1118_infectious_paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-t_1785532.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Paganism is infectious, more infectious than diphtheria or piety.” — E. M. Forster",
                "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": "E. M. Forster",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Paganism is infectious, more infectious than...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-than-diphtheria-or-piety/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/paganism-is-infectious-more-infectious-than-diphtheria-or-piety/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
