--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was formerly merely sickly now…" description: "\"What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent : it is indecent to be a Christian today.\" — Friedrich Nietzsche" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg" --- # What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent : it… ![“What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent : it is indecent to be a Christian today.” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg) > “What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent : it is indecent to be a Christian today.” [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 critiques modern Christianity as having lost its moral vigor, becoming merely a socially acceptable façade. **In simple terms:** Christianity is seen as a shallow, indecent social norm today. Key Takeaway Question the authenticity of contemporary religious practice. Themes morality religion authenticity Mood skeptical critical provocative Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - social gatherings - political discourse - personal belief - cultural analysis Key Concepts existentialism critique of morality Questions to Reflect On - Is faith still meaningful in a secular world? - How does society shape religious expression? A Different Perspective Nietzsche’s view may overlook sincere spiritual experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [“Our age knows better… What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent—it is indecent to be a Christian today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/our-age-knows-better-what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I believe the role of the Christian today is to show the world the love of Jesus. I know that may sound overly simplistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-sanchez/i-believe-the-role-of-the-christian-today-is-to-show-the-world-the/) [Ricardo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-sanchez/) > [The bite of conscience is indecent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-bite-of-conscience-is-indecent/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [In a certain state it is indecent to live longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-a-certain-state-it-is-indecent-to-live-longer/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [To the average professed Christian today, living so far below normal, New Testament Christianity would be a shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/to-the-average-professed-christian-today-living-so-far-below-normal/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Our society's obsession with tolerance leads to intolerance. Simply being a Christian today is an offense to our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/our-society-s-obsession-with-tolerance-leads-to-intolerance-simply/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [The attitude of the average Christian today is relax and be raptured. But He is coming... and when God gets angry you´ve no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-attitude-of-the-average-christian-today-is-relax-and-be-raptured/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I've been a Christian for a long time, and I think that Christianity gets a bad rap. I think that people's perception of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-ve-been-a-christian-for-a-long-time-and-i-think-that-christianity/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [“You are a Christian today only because God was the first to seek peace with you. You are now called and equipped to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/you-are-a-christian-today-only-because-god-was-the-first-to-seek/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [The distinctive mark of the Christian, today more than ever, must be love for the poor, the weak, the suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-distinctive-mark-of-the-christian-today-more-than-ever-must-be/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“Unlike the uneducated Christian followers from centuries ago, the typical Christian today has a particularly high level of suspicion of organized religion, including an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-s-haraburda/unlike-the-uneducated-christian-followers-from-centuries-ago-the/) [Scott S. Haraburda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-s-haraburda/) > [It takes one time to show someone how you feel about them...it's called indecent exposure or whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/it-takes-one-time-to-show-someone-how-you-feel-about-them-it-s-called/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [“She can't wear that dress! It's indecent. Her ass is hangin' out." ... "Son, take my advice, you gotta get this girl in hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/she-can-t-wear-that-dress-it-s-indecent-her-ass-is-hangin-out-son/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [No one should tolerate indecent behaviour; it's an absolute no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-shroff/no-one-should-tolerate-indecent-behaviour-it-s-an-absolute-no/) [Jackie Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-shroff/) > [There are certain times I don't want my picture taken. If my wife's stepping out of a car and it looks like it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-darin/there-are-certain-times-i-don-t-want-my-picture-taken-if-my-wife-s/) [Bobby Darin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-darin/) ## 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. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“79. A soul which knows that it is loved, but does not itself love, betrays its sediment: its dregs come up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/79-a-soul-which-knows-that-it-is-loved-but-does-not-itself-love/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [We deceive ourselves when giving respect to the person for whom we have surrendered ourselves, when we respectively expect them to be as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-deceive-ourselves-when-giving-respect-to-the-person-for-whom-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The great periods of our life occur when we gain the courage to rechristen what is bad about us as what is best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-great-periods-of-our-life-occur-when-we-gain-the-courage-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“What is life? Life - that is: continually shedding something that wants to die. Life - that is: being cruel and inexorable against everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-is-life-life-that-is-continually-shedding-something-that-wants/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Writers whose thoughts are expressed with clarity and precision are assumed by readers to be superficial. Where the meaning is obscured, then readers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/writers-whose-thoughts-are-expressed-with-clarity-and-precision-are/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“he does not wear a twitching, mobile, human face, but rather a mask, as it were, with its features in dignified equilibrium; he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/he-does-not-wear-a-twitching-mobile-human-face-but-rather-a-mask-as/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/chastity-is-a-virtue-with-some-but-with-many-it-is-almost-a-vice/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The earth is like the breasts of a woman: useful as well as pleasing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-earth-is-like-the-breasts-of-a-woman-useful-as-well-as-pleasing/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Of all that is written I love only what a man has written in his own blood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/of-all-that-is-written-i-love-only-what-a-man-has-written-in-his-own/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [No shepherd and one herd! 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 Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [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/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“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/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [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/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent : it is indecent to be a Christian today.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Friedrich Nietzsche" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes-indecent-it-is-indecent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes-indecent-it-is-indecent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/friedrich-nietzsche-15_christian_what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-beco_1105366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What was formerly merely sickly now becomes indecent : it is indecent to be a Christian today.” — Friedrich Nietzsche", "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": "Friedrich Nietzsche", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What was formerly merely sickly now...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes-indecent-it-is-indecent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-was-formerly-merely-sickly-now-becomes-indecent-it-is-indecent/#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 } } ] } ```