--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you go back far enough and get a wider…" description: "\"If you go back far enough and get a wider enough picture of history, we have let go of many things that follow a religious narrative. We don't burn wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/greg-graffin-4107_act_if-you-go-back-far-enough-and-get-a-wide_735853.png" --- # If you go back far enough and get a wider enough picture… ![“If you go back far enough and get a wider enough picture of history, we have let go of many things that follow a religious narrative. We don't burn witches anymore. Most people would consider that barbaric. We don't sacrifice human beings, which was a religious act practiced by numerous cultures…” quote by Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/greg-graffin-4107_act_if-you-go-back-far-enough-and-get-a-wide_735853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/greg-graffin-4107_act_if-you-go-back-far-enough-and-get-a-wide_735853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c7/greg-graffin-4107_act_if-you-go-back-far-enough-and-get-a-wide_735853.png) > “If you go back far enough and get a wider enough picture of history, we have let go of many things that follow a religious narrative. We don't burn witches anymore. Most people would consider that barbaric. We don't sacrifice human beings, which was a religious act practiced by numerous cultures on this planet.” [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) ## 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 reflects on humanity moving past religiously justified atrocities, noting progress away from barbaric practices. **In simple terms:** Humanity has stopped many cruel religious rituals. Key Takeaway Acknowledge progress while remaining vigilant. Themes history religion ethics progress humanity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - human rights advocacy - interfaith dialogue - policy reform Key Concepts moral evolution secularism cultural change Questions to Reflect On - What drives societies to abandon harmful rituals? - How can we ensure continued moral progress? A Different Perspective Some societies still practice harmful traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cultures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultures/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Let go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-go/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Witches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witches/) ## Related quotes > [Human beings are religious animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/human-beings-are-religious-animals/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches. I slam in the back of my Dragula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/dig-through-the-ditches-and-burn-through-the-witches-i-slam-in-the/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [“You can't say that you need to burn witches and shun gay men but eat pork and wear all the mixed fibers you want!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/you-can-t-say-that-you-need-to-burn-witches-and-shun-gay-men-but-eat/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [“I believe in witches, Sophia,” his deep voice hypnotized her. “I hope you don’t burn me at the stake,” she murmured to him. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiane-serruya/i-believe-in-witches-sophia-his-deep-voice-hypnotized-her-i-hope-you/) [Cristiane Serruya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiane-serruya/) > [“A society that has to burn witches to hold itself together is a society that has already failed, and just doesn’t know it yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-jane-anders/a-society-that-has-to-burn-witches-to-hold-itself-together-is-a/) [Charlie Jane Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-jane-anders/) > [“She had been forced by the rules her maker had imposed on her to sacrifice herself for the human. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/she-had-been-forced-by-the-rules-her-maker-had-imposed-on-her-to/) wildbow > [... if the production of any commodity necessitates the sacrifice of human life, society should do without that commodity, but itcan not do without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/if-the-production-of-any-commodity-necessitates-the-sacrifice-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The Philippines has no policy that demands sacrifice of human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-philippines-has-no-policy-that-demands-sacrifice-of-human-lives/) [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/) > [For me, no ideological or political conviction would justify the sacrifice of a human life. For me, the value of life is absolute, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-ramirez/for-me-no-ideological-or-political-conviction-would-justify-the/) [Edgar Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-ramirez/) > [Charity is that rational and constant affection which makes us sacrifice ourselves to the human race, as if we were united with it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/charity-is-that-rational-and-constant-affection-which-makes-us/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [On the contrary, I tried on numerous occasions to convince the American president not to go to war. I did what was within my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/on-the-contrary-i-tried-on-numerous-occasions-to-convince-the/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [I do take responsibility for it. I admit to having a problem. I have been to numerous treatment centers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/i-do-take-responsibility-for-it-i-admit-to-having-a-problem-i-have/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [I experienced rejection numerous times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-martin/i-experienced-rejection-numerous-times/) [Coco Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-martin/) > [Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/surrounded-by-all-the-members-of-my-dear-family-enjoying-the/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [While most individuals use the flesh of the coconut in their cooking, coconut water and oil are also known to have numerous health benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/while-most-individuals-use-the-flesh-of-the-coconut-in-their-cooking/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## More by Greg Graffin > [“Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/anarchy-evolution-faith-science-and-bad-religion-in-a-world-without/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Here's the thing, who cares what you have to look at, I'm a big advocate of not obscuring vistas, but even if you build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/here-s-the-thing-who-cares-what-you-have-to-look-at-i-m-a-big/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [You can't let your personal disposition be dictated by the world around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/you-can-t-let-your-personal-disposition-be-dictated-by-the-world/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Life is never static. Despite catastrophic tragedies, life has persisted in evolving new varieties of unimaginable forms. I find comfort in the narrative of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/life-is-never-static-despite-catastrophic-tragedies-life-has/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [People need to understand the basics of evolution if they are going to reject it—otherwise, they are not contributing anything productive to modern society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/people-need-to-understand-the-basics-of-evolution-if-they-are-going/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [We should enjoy and make the most of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/we-should-enjoy-and-make-the-most-of-life/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [I bill myself as a naturalist because if you say you're a naturalist, it gives people a conversation point to talk about what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/i-bill-myself-as-a-naturalist-because-if-you-say-you-re-a-naturalist/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [So much of the habitat destruction and pollution is based on the simple principle that we somehow have been given free license over other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/so-much-of-the-habitat-destruction-and-pollution-is-based-on-the/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [The trick is: how do you talk about natural selection without implying the rigidity of law? We use it as almost an active participant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/the-trick-is-how-do-you-talk-about-natural-selection-without-implying/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [I guess rock stars are role models for the kids who listen to that music. My role models have all been geologists - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/i-guess-rock-stars-are-role-models-for-the-kids-who-listen-to-that/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [I don't mind if other people call me an atheist, but I call myself a naturalist. Atheism doesn't tell you much about what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/i-don-t-mind-if-other-people-call-me-an-atheist-but-i-call-myself-a/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [I view music as entertainment. When I'm on stage, I don't look at that as a platform for sharing ideology. Otherwise I'd be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/i-view-music-as-entertainment-when-i-m-on-stage-i-don-t-look-at-that/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Bad Religion's tradition has always been to try and provoke people but hopefully lead them to a better sense of who they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/bad-religion-s-tradition-has-always-been-to-try-and-provoke-people/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Whether or not punk is the flavor of the month is not important for us. Bad Religion has been popular through many different climates.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/whether-or-not-punk-is-the-flavor-of-the-month-is-not-important-for/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) [Explore all 116 Greg Graffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) ## More Act quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/) [Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/) Browse all 1,802 Act quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you go back far enough and get a wider enough picture of history, we have let go of many things that follow a religious narrative. 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