--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: religion and morality are a much better…" description: "\"religion and morality are a much better whip to keep people in submission than even the club and the gun.\" — Emma Goldman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/emma-goldman-774_character_religion-and-morality-are-a-much-better_421165.png" --- # religion and morality are a much better whip to keep… ![“religion and morality are a much better whip to keep people in submission than even the club and the gun.” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/emma-goldman-774_character_religion-and-morality-are-a-much-better_421165.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/emma-goldman-774_character_religion-and-morality-are-a-much-better_421165.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/emma-goldman-774_character_religion-and-morality-are-a-much-better_421165.png) > “religion and morality are a much better whip to keep people in submission than even the club and the gun.” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power structures use religion and morality to control populations more subtly than force. **In simple terms:** Religion and morality can be tools of oppression. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek true freedom. Themes authority control morality religion freedom Mood critical defiant thought‑provoking Type political philosophical activist When to use this quote - political activism - education reform - community organizing - personal empowerment Key Concepts Anarchism social critique psychology of obedience Questions to Reflect On - How do you see morality used to limit freedom? - What alternatives to coercive control exist? A Different Perspective Such control can be resisted through critical thinking and collective action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Whip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-whip-262023/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-better-3733616/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-morality-351235/) [Submission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submission/) [Whip People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whip-people-1585111/) [Whips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whips/) ## Related quotes > [Oh it's fantastic because I get to whip people like David into shape and tell them to go get me coffee. Kidding - okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/oh-it-s-fantastic-because-i-get-to-whip-people-like-david-into-shape/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [“I know everything tastes better with whip cream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-reyes/i-know-everything-tastes-better-with-whip-cream/) [Elizabeth Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-reyes/) > [The Christian religion and morality extols the glory of the Hereafter, and therefore remains indifferent to the horrors of the earth. Indeed, the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-christian-religion-and-morality-extols-the-glory-of-the-hereafter/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [It does not matter what the whip is; it is none the less a whip, because you have cut thongs for it out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-does-not-matter-what-the-whip-is-it-is-none-the-less-a-whip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Consciously or unconsciously, most theists see in gods and devils, heaven and hell, reward and punishment, a whip to lash the people into obedience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/consciously-or-unconsciously-most-theists-see-in-gods-and-devils-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Public school - where the human mind is drilled and manipulated into submission to various social and moral spooks, and thus fitted to continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/public-school-where-the-human-mind-is-drilled-and-manipulated-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The greater the mental charlatan, the more definite his insistence on the wickedness and weaknesses of human nature. Yet how can anyone speak of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-greater-the-mental-charlatan-the-more-definite-his-insistence-on/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The worker who knows the cause of his misery, who understands the make-up of our iniquitous social and industrial system can do more for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-worker-who-knows-the-cause-of-his-misery-who-understands-the-make/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Christ and his teachings are the embodiment of submission, of inertia, of the denial of life; hence responsible for the things done in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/christ-and-his-teachings-are-the-embodiment-of-submission-of-inertia/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-dispositions-and-habits-which-lead-to-political-prosperity/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“What I don’t understand is how some people say they can recognize the necessity to provide people with equal treatment under the law but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-perry/what-i-don-t-understand-is-how-some-people-say-they-can-recognize-the/) [Natalie Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-perry/) > [It is alleged by men of loose principles , or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/it-is-alleged-by-men-of-loose-principles-or-defective-views-of-the/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-dispositions-and-habits-which-lead-to-political-prosperity-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) [Charles Carroll of Carrollton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/) ## More by Emma Goldman > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [More pernicious than the power of a dictator is that of a class; the most terrible - the tyranny of a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/more-pernicious-than-the-power-of-a-dictator-is-that-of-a-class-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the definer of all laws, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/love-the-strongest-and-deepest-element-in-all-life-the-harbinger-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The free expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people is the greatest and only safety in a sane society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-free-expression-of-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-a-people-is-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/someone-has-said-that-it-requires-less-mental-effort-to-condemn-than/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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