--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If enough people openly engage in conduct…" description: "\"If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will go alon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/james-l-buckley-28242_assuming_if-enough-people-openly-engage-in-conduc_144706.jpg" --- # If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered… ![“If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will go along.” quote by James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/james-l-buckley-28242_assuming_if-enough-people-openly-engage-in-conduc_144706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/james-l-buckley-28242_assuming_if-enough-people-openly-engage-in-conduc_144706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2e/james-l-buckley-28242_assuming_if-enough-people-openly-engage-in-conduc_144706.jpg) > “If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will go along.” [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When many openly adopt formerly condemned behavior, societal norms shift, implying even divine approval may adapt to democratic change. **In simple terms:** Widespread acceptance reshapes norms and divine views. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of collective behavior. Themes ethics society change democracy Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - law - media - activism - education Key Concepts norms collective action religious interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How does popular behavior influence moral standards? - Can democracy truly reshape divine concepts? A Different Perspective Might ignore deep moral convictions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assume God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assume-god-685086/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Conduct Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conduct-considered-1625422/) [Considered Reprehensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-reprehensible-260345/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Engagement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engagement/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Good Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-democrat-371653/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [There's always a temptation, I think, among some historical writers to shade things toward the modern point of view. 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Maybe we just assume God has a personality because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/okay-i-can-accept-the-idea-that-god-doesn-t-have-a-personality/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Behind the Jesus Is Here sign is a health, wealth, and prosperity “gospel” that removes God from the status of sovereign Lord and turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spencer/behind-the-jesus-is-here-sign-is-a-health-wealth-and-prosperity/) [Michael Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spencer/) > [Now it seems that everything in the world stems from sources other than God, since the products of nature have their source in nature;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/now-it-seems-that-everything-in-the-world-stems-from-sources-other/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Most people's Gods are self-reflective. God just has to be like you. You get concerned, so you assume God must get concerned. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/most-people-s-gods-are-self-reflective-god-just-has-to-be-like-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by James L. Buckley > [Given the difficulty of resisting such temptations over the longer run, a proper concern for the welfare of congressional souls may well be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/given-the-difficulty-of-resisting-such-temptations-over-the-longer/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [It would seem, therefore, that this constitutional safeguard may no longer serve its original purpose, especially when, as we learned last year, some acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/it-would-seem-therefore-that-this-constitutional-safeguard-may-no/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/this-source-of-corruption-alas-is-inherent-in-the-democratic-system/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [The Court made an exception, however, in the case of candidates contributing to their own campaigns because of the rather reasonable presumption that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/the-court-made-an-exception-however-in-the-case-of-candidates/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Unfortunately, in today's world we have to be reminded that the power of an oath derives from the fact that in it we ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/unfortunately-in-today-s-world-we-have-to-be-reminded-that-the-power/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [In rendering its decision in our case, the Supreme Court equated money with speech because these days it takes the first to make yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/in-rendering-its-decision-in-our-case-the-supreme-court-equated-money/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Under the circumstances, may I suggest another means of encouraging probity in elective office. I refer to term limitations, which can serve ends beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/under-the-circumstances-may-i-suggest-another-means-of-encouraging/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Unfortunately, the media, which are not at all reluctant to act in their own self-interest, have succeeded in equating reform in the public mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/unfortunately-the-media-which-are-not-at-all-reluctant-to-act-in/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [I am persuaded that in the case of elected officials, the overwhelming temptation is to conclude that it is more important for your constituents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/i-am-persuaded-that-in-the-case-of-elected-officials-the-overwhelming/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/they-may-then-be-willing-to-cast-principled-votes-based-on-an/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [I had hoped that the current presidential campaign debates might educate the public as to what is really involved in the ongoing controversy over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/i-had-hoped-that-the-current-presidential-campaign-debates-might/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [What people fail to appreciate is that the currency of corruption in elective office is, not money, but votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/what-people-fail-to-appreciate-is-that-the-currency-of-corruption-in/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Once it becomes impossible for members of Congress to make a career of legislative service, the temptation to bend a vote for whatever reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/once-it-becomes-impossible-for-members-of-congress-to-make-a-career/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [The kind of corruption the media talk about, the kind the Supreme Court was concerned about, involves the putative sale of votes in exchange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/the-kind-of-corruption-the-media-talk-about-the-kind-the-supreme/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Moreover, we are showing a dismaying tendency to recast God in Man's image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/moreover-we-are-showing-a-dismaying-tendency-to-recast-god-in-man-s/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) [Explore all 19 James L. Buckley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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