--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One form of religion perpetually gives…" description: "\"One form of religion perpetually gives way to another; if religion did not change it would be dead. ... Each time the new ideas appear they are seen at..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f46/edith-hamilton-7366_ancient_one-form-of-religion-perpetually-gives-w_2678691.jpg" --- # One form of religion perpetually gives way to another; if… ![“One form of religion perpetually gives way to another; if religion did not change it would be dead. ... Each time the new ideas appear they are seen at first as a deadly foe threatening to make religion perish from the earth; but in the end there is a deeper insight and a better life with ancient…” quote by Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f46/edith-hamilton-7366_ancient_one-form-of-religion-perpetually-gives-w_2678691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f46/edith-hamilton-7366_ancient_one-form-of-religion-perpetually-gives-w_2678691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f46/edith-hamilton-7366_ancient_one-form-of-religion-perpetually-gives-w_2678691.jpg) > “One form of religion perpetually gives way to another; if religion did not change it would be dead. ... Each time the new ideas appear they are seen at first as a deadly foe threatening to make religion perish from the earth; but in the end there is a deeper insight and a better life with ancient follies and prejudices gone.” [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religions evolve; stagnation leads to death, new ideas initially threaten but eventually improve faith. **In simple terms:** Religion changes or dies; new ideas reshape beliefs. Key Takeaway Embrace change, seek deeper insight. Themes religion change progress tradition Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal belief revision - interfaith dialogue - cultural reform Key Concepts evolution adaptation cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to challenging beliefs? - What benefits arise from religious adaptation? A Different Perspective New ideas may cause conflict before acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Foe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [New ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ideas/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [If the people were a little more ignorant, astrology would flourish - if a little more enlightened, religion would perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-the-people-were-a-little-more-ignorant-astrology-would-flourish-if/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If people are foolish, they are bound to mix the personality and the Truth, and to build a temple around the personality and form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/if-people-are-foolish-they-are-bound-to-mix-the-personality-and-the/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [As long as a man thinks, this struggle must go on, and so long man must have some form of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/as-long-as-a-man-thinks-this-struggle-must-go-on-and-so-long-man-must/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Culture is "lived religion". It is the form that religion takes in the lives of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-r-van-til/culture-is-lived-religion-it-is-the-form-that-religion-takes-in-the/) [Henry R. Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-r-van-til/) > [The form of religion was always a trivial matter to me. ... The pageantry of the Roman Church that first mothered and nurtured me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-catherwood/the-form-of-religion-was-always-a-trivial-matter-to-me-the-pageantry/) [Mary Catherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-catherwood/) > [Culture (science) is the form of religion; Religion is the substance of culture (science).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/culture-science-is-the-form-of-religion-religion-is-the-substance-of/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Does not a great number a feelings determine a common feeling formed by the parts that compose it? Once Truth can no longer be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/does-not-a-great-number-a-feelings-determine-a-common-feeling-formed/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [You may go over the world and you will find that every form of religion which has breathed upon this earth has degraded woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/you-may-go-over-the-world-and-you-will-find-that-every-form-of/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Maybe utopianism is my form of religion in a world without God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/maybe-utopianism-is-my-form-of-religion-in-a-world-without-god/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Socialism is just another form of religion, and thus delusional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/socialism-is-just-another-form-of-religion-and-thus-delusional/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“In the camp we saw our own people kill each other over a crust of bread. In the old days I used to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-van-stockum/in-the-camp-we-saw-our-own-people-kill-each-other-over-a-crust-of/) [Hilda Van Stockum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-van-stockum/) > [“From time to time he consulted books about Islamic jurisprudence, the fikh, in his own collection when confronted with thorny problems in his marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-hammer/from-time-to-time-he-consulted-books-about-islamic-jurisprudence-the/) Joshua Hammer > [“Religion had nothing to do with why they did what they did; it was simply something they latched on to and used as justification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-wright/religion-had-nothing-to-do-with-why-they-did-what-they-did-it-was/) [Suzanne Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-wright/) > [It happened very providentially, to the honor of the Christian religion, that it did not take its rise in the dark illiterate ages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/it-happened-very-providentially-to-the-honor-of-the-christian/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I don't profess to have any religion, but if I did, my God would be Fidel Castro. He is like a ship that knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elian-gonzalez/i-don-t-profess-to-have-any-religion-but-if-i-did-my-god-would-be/) [Elian Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elian-gonzalez/) ## More by Edith Hamilton > [Poetry and preaching do not go well together; when the preacher mounts the pulpit the poet usually goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/poetry-and-preaching-do-not-go-well-together-when-the-preacher-mounts/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [When faith is supported by facts or by logic it ceases to be faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/when-faith-is-supported-by-facts-or-by-logic-it-ceases-to-be-faith/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Ages of faith and of unbelief are always said to mark the course of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/ages-of-faith-and-of-unbelief-are-always-said-to-mark-the-course-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [None so good that he has no faults, None so wicked that he is worth naught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/none-so-good-that-he-has-no-faults-none-so-wicked-that-he-is-worth/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [To be able to be caught up into the world of thought-that is educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/to-be-able-to-be-caught-up-into-the-world-of-thought-that-is-educated/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Convention, so often a mask for injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/convention-so-often-a-mask-for-injustice/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Myths are early science, the result of men's first trying to explain what they saw around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/myths-are-early-science-the-result-of-men-s-first-trying-to-explain/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [A people's literature is the great textbook for real knowledge of them. The writings of the day show the quality of the people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/a-people-s-literature-is-the-great-textbook-for-real-knowledge-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [“He drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek and make Hell grant what Love did seek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/he-drew-iron-tears-down-pluto-s-cheek-and-make-hell-grant-what-love/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Mind and spirit together make up that which separates us from the rest of the animal world, that which enables a man to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/mind-and-spirit-together-make-up-that-which-separates-us-from-the/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/it-has-always-seemed-strange-to-me-that-in-our-endless-discussions/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [When we speak of beauty, we're speaking of something we're more or less indifferent to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/when-we-speak-of-beauty-we-re-speaking-of-something-we-re-more-or/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Love, however, cannot be forbidden. The more that flame is covered up, the hotter it burns. Also love can always find a way. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/love-however-cannot-be-forbidden-the-more-that-flame-is-covered-up/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [In theology the conservative temper tends to formalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/in-theology-the-conservative-temper-tends-to-formalism/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [The Old Testament is the record of men's conviction that God speaks directly to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/the-old-testament-is-the-record-of-men-s-conviction-that-god-speaks/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) [Explore all 92 Edith Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One form of religion perpetually gives way to another; if religion did not change it would be dead. ... 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