--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be a god First I must be a god-maker…" description: "\"To be a god First I must be a god-maker: We are what we create.\" — James Oppenheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png" --- # To be a god First I must be a god-maker: We are what we… ![“To be a god First I must be a god-maker: We are what we create.” quote by James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png) > “To be a god First I must be a god-maker: We are what we create.” [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Asserts that creating something divine requires first becoming a creator, emphasizing self‑determination. **In simple terms:** To be divine, first create. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your creations. Themes creativity self‑empowerment divinity Mood determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - artistic projects - entrepreneurship - leadership development Key Concepts god‑maker concept self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What are you creating that defines you? - Can creation equal divinity? A Different Perspective Risk of hubris if over‑valuing creation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-first/) [God Maker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-maker-1964496/) [Maker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maker/) [Maker Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maker-create-6154926/) [Makers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makers/) ## Related quotes > [“God is the Maker of heaven and earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-the-maker-of-heaven-and-earth/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Now, as God the maker play'd he taught the game to Nature whom he created in his image; taught her the selfsame game which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/now-as-god-the-maker-play-d-he-taught-the-game-to-nature-whom-he/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) > [Who made God? Doesn't matter. We are not responsible to a hypothetical maker of God but to our maker - God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-martin/who-made-god-doesn-t-matter-we-are-not-responsible-to-a-hypothetical/) [Walter Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-martin/) > [Imagine if you would, what would happen to your sorrows and fears if God Himself, the maker of heaven and earth, the Father of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr/imagine-if-you-would-what-would-happen-to-your-sorrows-and-fears-if/) [R. C. Sproul, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr/) > [“I knew I was in danger from the moment I proposed visiting you a second time. I knew because God warned me by sending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/i-knew-i-was-in-danger-from-the-moment-i-proposed-visiting-you-a/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“God is Maker of heaven and earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-maker-of-heaven-and-earth/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I don't know how to use appliances. I mean, I use the coffee maker. But that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-don-t-know-how-to-use-appliances-i-mean-i-use-the-coffee-maker-but/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [I am a maker of useful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-zeisel/i-am-a-maker-of-useful-things/) [Eva Zeisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-zeisel/) > [It becomes not a law-maker to be a law-breaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bias-of-priene/it-becomes-not-a-law-maker-to-be-a-law-breaker/) [Bias of Priene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bias-of-priene/) > [I think that whether you're on the right or on the left as an economist or as a policy maker, every serious analyst I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blair-henry/i-think-that-whether-you-re-on-the-right-or-on-the-left-as-an/) [Peter Blair Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blair-henry/) > [I'm not a sculptor; I'm a hard-edged model maker. 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I love to cook Italian food, so I learned from my dad how to make sauce and meatballs and all that stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-fatone/i-m-italian-i-love-to-cook-italian-food-so-i-learned-from-my-dad-how/) [Joey Fatone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-fatone/) ## More by James Oppenheim > [A faith like Lincoln's would transform the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/a-faith-like-lincoln-s-would-transform-the-world/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [“As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days, The rising of the women means the rising of the race. No more the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/as-we-go-marching-marching-we-bring-the-greater-days-the-rising-of/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [The fool is looking for happiness far away. The wise man makes it grow under his feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/the-fool-is-looking-for-happiness-far-away-the-wise-man-makes-it-grow/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [Free men set themselves free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/free-men-set-themselves-free/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/hearts-starve-as-well-as-bodies-give-us-bread-but-give-us-roses/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [They can only set free men free... And there is no need of that: Free men set themselves free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/they-can-only-set-free-men-free-and-there-is-no-need-of-that-free-men/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [We age inevitably: The old joys fade and are gone: And at last comes equanimity and the flame burning clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/we-age-inevitably-the-old-joys-fade-and-are-gone-and-at-last-comes/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [Would you end war? Create great Peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/would-you-end-war-create-great-peace/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [Man's the bad child of the universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/man-s-the-bad-child-of-the-universe/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) > [Quick as a hummingbird...she darts so eagerly, swiftly, sweetly dipping into the flowers of my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/quick-as-a-hummingbird-she-darts-so-eagerly-swiftly-sweetly-dipping/) [James Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) [Explore all 11 James Oppenheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/) ## More Create quotes > [As far as Vern and I go, we have had situations where people have tried to take photographs of me and cut Vernon out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/as-far-as-vern-and-i-go-we-have-had-situations-where-people-have/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [I'm proud to stand with U.S. Impact Team in their initiative to create harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-m-proud-to-stand-with-u-s-impact-team-in-their-initiative-to-create/) [Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/) > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [United Way works to create a safe and healthy home for everyone in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steward/united-way-works-to-create-a-safe-and-healthy-home-for-everyone-in/) [David Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steward/) > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [“If I can create something unique in the world, so can you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scifurz/if-i-can-create-something-unique-in-the-world-so-can-you/) [SciFurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scifurz/) > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [For a long time at Blackburn and at Fulham last season, I was playing on the right wing. I've never seen myself as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cairney/for-a-long-time-at-blackburn-and-at-fulham-last-season-i-was-playing/) [Tom Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cairney/) > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) [Browse all 5,654 Create quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be a god First I must be a god-maker: We are what we create.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Oppenheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker-we-are-what-we-create/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Create" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker-we-are-what-we-create/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/413/james-oppenheim-40357_create_to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker_1613640.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be a god First I must be a god-maker: We are what we create.” — James Oppenheim", "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": "James Oppenheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oppenheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be a god First I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker-we-are-what-we-create/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oppenheim/to-be-a-god-first-i-must-be-a-god-maker-we-are-what-we-create/#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 } } ] } ```