---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t really think the standard of…"
description: "\"“I don’t really think the standard of judgment, the missing link, you spoke of that you find in my stories emerges from any religion but Christianity, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png"
---

#  I don’t really think the standard of judgment, the missing…

![“I don’t really think the standard of judgment, the missing link, you spoke of that you find in my stories emerges from any religion but Christianity, because it concerns specifically Christ and the Incarnation, the fact that there has been a unique intervention in history. It’s not a matter in…” quote by Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png)

> ““I don’t really think the standard of judgment, the missing link, you spoke of that you find in my stories emerges from any religion but Christianity, because it concerns specifically Christ and the Incarnation, the fact that there has been a unique intervention in history. It’s not a matter in these stories of Do Unto Others. That can be found in any ethical cultural series. It is the fact of the Word made flesh.””

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote argues that true moral judgment stems from Christian revelation of Christ’s incarnation, not generic ethical teachings.

**In simple terms:** Moral judgment comes from Christian belief in Christ’s incarnation.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the unique role of faith in moral insight.

Themes

faith ethics Christianity incarnation judgment

Mood

contemplative serious

Type

theological literary

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- theological debate
- ethical decision making

Key Concepts

theology existentialism literary criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- How does belief in the Incarnation shape moral choices?
- Can ethics be grounded without religion?

A Different Perspective

May exclude non‑Christian perspectives on morality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Incarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incarnation/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [“But Jesus had to speak through a public-address system—the only one available—which distorted his words, so that they came forth as the bombastic claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/but-jesus-had-to-speak-through-a-public-address-system-the-only-one/)

[Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/)

> [I see Christ as the incarnation of the piper who is calling us. He dances that shape and pattern which is at the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-carter/i-see-christ-as-the-incarnation-of-the-piper-who-is-calling-us-he/)

[Sydney Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-carter/)

> [The most destructive criticism has not been able to dethrone Christ as the incarnation of perfect holiness. The waves of a tossing and restless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herrick-johnson/the-most-destructive-criticism-has-not-been-able-to-dethrone-christ/)

[Herrick Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herrick-johnson/)

> [“Christ’s incarnation was less a reaction or response than it was a proactive demonstration of love:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-dickerson/christ-s-incarnation-was-less-a-reaction-or-response-than-it-was-a/)

[John S. Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-dickerson/)

> [“In short, we are living by 'the Golden Rule - whoever has the gold rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temin/in-short-we-are-living-by-the-golden-rule-whoever-has-the-gold-rules/)

Peter Temin

> [The most important thing is that you be a good person and you live by the golden rule of do unto others. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-be-a-good-person-and-you-live-by/)

[Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/)

> [My parents really did believe in the Golden Rule. They really did believe that all people should be treated equally. They had friends of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-farr/my-parents-really-did-believe-in-the-golden-rule-they-really-did/)

[Diane Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-farr/)

> [The golden rule for playing the bass is that's it all about feel, not just plonking away. You need to feel the sound, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-golden-rule-for-playing-the-bass-is-that-s-it-all-about-feel-not/)

[Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/)

> [I don't believe in the war god of the Israelites. He's a bogeyman. Jesus preached the golden rule, by and large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-don-t-believe-in-the-war-god-of-the-israelites-he-s-a-bogeyman/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“Am I sitting here now, months later, in Los Angeles, writing all this down, because I want my life to matter? Maybe so. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/am-i-sitting-here-now-months-later-in-los-angeles-writing-all-this/)

[Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/)

> [The better life rests less on the prohibitions of the Ten Commandments and more on the parable of the Good Samaritan and the Golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/the-better-life-rests-less-on-the-prohibitions-of-the-ten/)

[David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/)

> [“She may not be like everyone else, but neither am I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-marie-baumgartner/she-may-not-be-like-everyone-else-but-neither-am-i/)

[Jessica Marie Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-marie-baumgartner/)

> [My mother was a Bible student, and when I was a youngster, both my mother and father would say, 'If people would only live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/my-mother-was-a-bible-student-and-when-i-was-a-youngster-both-my/)

[Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/)

> [“We all have to share this world. The best way to do that is to be nice to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-marie-baumgartner/we-all-have-to-share-this-world-the-best-way-to-do-that-is-to-be-nice/)

[Jessica Marie Baumgartner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-marie-baumgartner/)

> [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. If someone were addressing your point, what tone, what overall approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-most-important-guideline-when-it-comes-to-argument-is-the-golden/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

## More by Flannery O'Connor

> [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [... the man in the violent situation reveals those qualities least dispensable in his personality, those qualities which are all he will have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-man-in-the-violent-situation-reveals-those-qualities-least/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“I don’t know how to cure the source-itis except to tell you that I can discover a good many possible sources myself for Wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-don-t-know-how-to-cure-the-source-itis-except-to-tell-you-that-i/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/for-the-fiction-writer-himself-the-whole-story-is-the-meaning-because/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [Everything that gave her pleasure was small and depressed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/everything-that-gave-her-pleasure-was-small-and-depressed-him/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [To the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/to-the-hard-of-hearing-you-shout-and-for-the-almost-blind-you-draw/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“He felt his hunger no longer as a pain but as a tide. He felt it rising in himself through time and darkness, rising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/he-felt-his-hunger-no-longer-as-a-pain-but-as-a-tide-he-felt-it/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going to never was there, and where you are is no good unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/where-you-come-from-is-gone-where-you-thought-you-were-going-to-never/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [Technique in the minds of many is something rigid, something like a formula that you impose on the material; but in the best stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/technique-in-the-minds-of-many-is-something-rigid-something-like-a/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“There are all kinds of truth ... but behind all of them there is only one truth and that is that there's no truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/there-are-all-kinds-of-truth-but-behind-all-of-them-there-is-only-one/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“Mrs. May winced. She thought the word Jesus should be kept inside the church building like other words inside the bedroom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/mrs-may-winced-she-thought-the-word-jesus-should-be-kept-inside-the/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [I feel that discussing story-writing in terms of plot, character, and theme is like trying to describe the expression on a face by saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-feel-that-discussing-story-writing-in-terms-of-plot-character-and/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [She had observed that the more education they got, the less they could do. Their father had gone to a one-room schoolhouse through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/she-had-observed-that-the-more-education-they-got-the-less-they-could/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [One of the awful things about writing when you are a Christian is that for you the ultimate reality is the Incarnation, the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/one-of-the-awful-things-about-writing-when-you-are-a-christian-is/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [“Hazel Motes sat at a forward angel on the green plush train seat, looking one minute at the window as if he might want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/hazel-motes-sat-at-a-forward-angel-on-the-green-plush-train-seat/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

[Explore all 432 Flannery O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

## More Christianity quotes

> [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/)

[Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/)

[Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

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

> [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

[Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I don’t really think the standard of judgment, the missing link, you spoke of that you find in my stories emerges from any religion but Christianity, because it concerns specifically Christ and the Incarnation, the fact that there has been a unique intervention in history. It’s not a matter in these stories of Do Unto Others. That can be found in any ethical cultural series. It is the fact of the Word made flesh.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Flannery O'Connor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-judgment-the-missing-link-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christianity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-judgment-the-missing-link-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/flannery-o-connor-639_christianity_i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-jud_1800896.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don’t really think the standard of judgment, the missing link, you spoke of that you find in my stories…” — Flannery O'Connor",
                "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": "Flannery O'Connor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I don’t really think the standard...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-judgment-the-missing-link-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-don-t-really-think-the-standard-of-judgment-the-missing-link-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
