--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have known men who thought the object…" description: "\"I have known men who thought the object of conversion was to cleanse them as a garment is cleansed, and that when they are converted they were to be hu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/henry-ward-beecher-175_christian_i-have-known-men-who-thought-the-object_791332.jpg" --- # I have known men who thought the object of conversion was… ![“I have known men who thought the object of conversion was to cleanse them as a garment is cleansed, and that when they are converted they were to be hung up in the Lord's wardrobe, the door of which was to be shut, so that no dust could get at them. A coat that is not used the moths eat; and a…” quote by Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/henry-ward-beecher-175_christian_i-have-known-men-who-thought-the-object_791332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/henry-ward-beecher-175_christian_i-have-known-men-who-thought-the-object_791332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82e/henry-ward-beecher-175_christian_i-have-known-men-who-thought-the-object_791332.jpg) > “I have known men who thought the object of conversion was to cleanse them as a garment is cleansed, and that when they are converted they were to be hung up in the Lord's wardrobe, the door of which was to be shut, so that no dust could get at them. A coat that is not used the moths eat; and a Christian who is hung up so that he shall not be tempted, the moths eat him; and they have poor food at that.” [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Beecher satirically warns against overly rigid religious practices that isolate believers, likening them to unused clothes that attract moths. **In simple terms:** Avoid rigid faith that isolates you. Key Takeaway Balance devotion with engagement. Themes faith religion community humor Mood thoughtful humorous critical Type theological satirical reflective When to use this quote - church life - personal spirituality - religious critique - social reform Key Concepts satire theology Questions to Reflect On - What practices keep faith alive and active? - How can communities avoid becoming stagnant? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on isolation can lead to neglect of active faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [A coat that is not used, the moths eat; and a Christian who is hung up so that he shall not be tempted-the moths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-coat-that-is-not-used-the-moths-eat-and-a-christian-who-is-hung-up/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Measure your life by how much of your time you have converted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/measure-your-life-by-how-much-of-your-time-you-have-converted/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I went to preaching again. 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It is from that time that everything is made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-can-be-converted-to-anything-it-is-from-that-time-that/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I went in, and there, in the front room, a converted bedroom, sat the first radio I had ever seen. 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You can only make wealth from a time well converted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/only-when-that-time-is-converted-can-you-produce-something-from-it/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Henry Ward Beecher > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. 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Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [You have seen a ship out on the bay, swinging with the tide, and seeming as if it would follow it; and yet it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/you-have-seen-a-ship-out-on-the-bay-swinging-with-the-tide-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Explore all 990 Henry Ward Beecher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." 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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": "I have known men who thought the object of conversion was to cleanse them as a garment is cleansed, and that when they are converted they were to be hung up in the Lord's wardrobe, the door of which was to be shut, so that no dust could get at them. 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