--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even a man who makes the most modest…" description: "\"“Even a man who makes the most modest pretensions to integrity must know that a theologian, a priest, a pope of today not only errs when he speaks, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/friedrich-nietzsche-15_quote_even-a-man-who-makes-the-most-modest-pre_1904390.jpg" --- # Even a man who makes the most modest pretensions to… ![“Even a man who makes the most modest pretensions to integrity must know that a theologian, a priest, a pope of today not only errs when he speaks, but actually lies—and that he no longer escapes blame for his lie through “innocence” or “ignorance.” The priest knows, as every one knows, that there…” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/friedrich-nietzsche-15_quote_even-a-man-who-makes-the-most-modest-pre_1904390.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/friedrich-nietzsche-15_quote_even-a-man-who-makes-the-most-modest-pre_1904390.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/friedrich-nietzsche-15_quote_even-a-man-who-makes-the-most-modest-pre_1904390.jpg) > ““Even a man who makes the most modest pretensions to integrity must know that a theologian, a priest, a pope of today not only errs when he speaks, but actually lies—and that he no longer escapes blame for his lie through “innocence” or “ignorance.” The priest knows, as every one knows, that there is no longer any “God,”” [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nietzsche argues that modern religious leaders claim moral authority while knowingly deceiving, and they cannot hide behind innocence or ignorance. **In simple terms:** Religious leaders lie and cannot claim innocence. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek truth. Themes morality religion authority truth deception Mood skeptical critical provocative Type philosophical critical controversial When to use this quote - Political discourse - personal belief evaluation - ethical decision making - media analysis Key Concepts Existentialism critique of religion moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern genuine integrity in leaders? - Can institutions be reformed without abandoning belief? A Different Perspective Religious institutions may still hold sincere believers, complicating blanket condemnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/) ## Related quotes > [The priest knows, as every one knows, that there is no longer any "God," or any "sinner," or any "Saviour" that "free will" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-priest-knows-as-every-one-knows-that-there-is-no-longer-any-god/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [a little of the ready reliance on the expert comes from the desire to waive responsibillity, comes from the endless evasion of life instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/a-little-of-the-ready-reliance-on-the-expert-comes-from-the-desire-to/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [Whatever a theologian regards as true must be false: there you have almost a criterion of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/whatever-a-theologian-regards-as-true-must-be-false-there-you-have/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [All preachers of morality, as also all theologians have a bad habit in common: all of them try to persuade man that he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/all-preachers-of-morality-as-also-all-theologians-have-a-bad-habit-in/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [His (the theologian) basic instinct of self preservation forbids him to respect reality at any point or even to let it get a word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/his-the-theologian-basic-instinct-of-self-preservation-forbids-him-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Being a systematic theologian allows me to indulge all my interests - in literature, film, art, music - by relating them all to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-vanhoozer/being-a-systematic-theologian-allows-me-to-indulge-all-my-interests/) [Kevin Vanhoozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-vanhoozer/) > [Grace abounds in contemporary movies, books, novels, films and music. 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Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) ## More by Friedrich Nietzsche > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/no-shepherd-and-one-herd-everybody-wants-the-same-everybody-is-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Pain makes hens and poets cackle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/pain-makes-hens-and-poets-cackle/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Explore all 3,486 Friedrich Nietzsche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More Theologian quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. 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