--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not attach any intrinsic value to…" description: "\"We do not attach any intrinsic value to the Cross; this would be sinful and idolatrous. Our veneration is referred to Him who died upon it.\" — James Gi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/james-gibbons-37038_cross_we-do-not-attach-any-intrinsic-value-to_1921692.png" --- # We do not attach any intrinsic value to the Cross; this… ![“We do not attach any intrinsic value to the Cross; this would be sinful and idolatrous. Our veneration is referred to Him who died upon it.” quote by James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/james-gibbons-37038_cross_we-do-not-attach-any-intrinsic-value-to_1921692.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/james-gibbons-37038_cross_we-do-not-attach-any-intrinsic-value-to_1921692.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/james-gibbons-37038_cross_we-do-not-attach-any-intrinsic-value-to_1921692.png) > “We do not attach any intrinsic value to the Cross; this would be sinful and idolatrous. Our veneration is referred to Him who died upon it.” [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Cross itself holds no intrinsic value; reverence should focus on Christ's sacrifice, not the object. **In simple terms:** The Cross is a symbol, not a deity. Key Takeaway Honor the meaning, not the object. Themes religion symbolism idolatry theology faith Mood reverent thoughtful serious Type theological educational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts iconography transcendence worship Questions to Reflect On - Why do people attach power to physical symbols? - How can faith be expressed without idolatry? A Different Perspective Risk of reducing sacred symbols to mere objects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friday/) [Good friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friday/) [Intrinsic value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrinsic-value/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Veneration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veneration/) ## Related quotes > [Those who confine God's love exclusively to the elect appear to me to take a narrow and contracted view of God's character and attributes…I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-confine-god-s-love-exclusively-to-the-elect-appear-to-me-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“...why do people venerate Einstein or Bill Gates? Clive Bell explains: Genius worship is the inevitable sign of an uncreative age…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/why-do-people-venerate-einstein-or-bill-gates-clive-bell-explains/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [That man is formed for social life is an observation which, upon our first inquiry, presents itself immediately to our view, and our reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-warren/that-man-is-formed-for-social-life-is-an-observation-which-upon-our/) [Joseph Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-warren/) > [In this world there is one godlike thing, the essence of all that was or ever will be of godlike in this world: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/in-this-world-there-is-one-godlike-thing-the-essence-of-all-that-was/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The veneration, wherewith Men are imbued for what they call Nature, has been a discouraging impediment to the Empire of Man over the inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/the-veneration-wherewith-men-are-imbued-for-what-they-call-nature-has/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [The modern spectacle of vanished forests and eroded lands, wasted petroleum and ruthless mining, national debts recklessly increased until they are repudiated, and continual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-modern-spectacle-of-vanished-forests-and-eroded-lands-wasted/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [What but education has advanced us beyond the condition of our indigenous neighbors? 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In all the affairs of this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/religion-in-a-magistrate-strengthens-his-authority-because-it/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [But he has gone, A nation's memory and veneration, Among the radiant, ever venturing on, Somewhere, with morning, as such spirits will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-masefield/but-he-has-gone-a-nation-s-memory-and-veneration-among-the-radiant/) [John Masefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-masefield/) ## More by James Gibbons > [For to keep at the top is harder almost than to get there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/for-to-keep-at-the-top-is-harder-almost-than-to-get-there/) [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) > [A civil ruler dabbling in religion is as reprehensible as a clergyman dabbling in politics. Both render themselves odious as well as ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/a-civil-ruler-dabbling-in-religion-is-as-reprehensible-as-a-clergyman/) [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) > [Like all valuable commodities, truth is often counterfeited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/like-all-valuable-commodities-truth-is-often-counterfeited/) [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) > [I am no longer a curmudgeon. I am a curmudgeon emeritus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/i-am-no-longer-a-curmudgeon-i-am-a-curmudgeon-emeritus/) [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) > [Reform must come from within, not from without. 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Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I do enjoy intense, bloodthirsty action, but I like to blend and cross genres. I don't want to be too predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-do-enjoy-intense-bloodthirsty-action-but-i-like-to-blend-and-cross/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [In the Christianity of Christendom the Cross has become something like the child’s hobby-horse and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-christianity-of-christendom-the-cross-has-become-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“You can always count on the promise of forever that He made when He died on that cross and rose again three days later.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-s/you-can-always-count-on-the-promise-of-forever-that-he-made-when-he/) [Naya S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-s/) > [“My religious convictions and scientific views cannot at present be more specifically defined than as those of a believer in creative evolution. 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I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-is-a-very-thin-line-dividing-characterisation-from/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater-the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/sin-is-the-second-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-for-it-sent/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“God has chosen to save the world through the cross, through the shameful and powerless death of the crucified Messiah. If that shocking event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hays/god-has-chosen-to-save-the-world-through-the-cross-through-the/) Richard Hays > [God makes me play well. That is why I always make the sign of a cross when I walk out on to the pitch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-maradona/god-makes-me-play-well-that-is-why-i-always-make-the-sign-of-a-cross/) [Diego Maradona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-maradona/) > [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The point of trying to understand the cross better is not so that we can congratulate ourselves for having solved an intellectual crossword puzzle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-point-of-trying-to-understand-the-cross-better-is-not-so-that-we/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) [Browse all 986 Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We do not attach any intrinsic value to the Cross; this would be sinful and idolatrous. 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