--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that the real religion is about…" description: "\"“I think that the real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might have a chance of experiencing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-cleese-1768_learning_i-think-that-the-real-religion-is-about_2885642.jpg" --- # I think that the real religion is about the understanding… ![“I think that the real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might have a chance of experiencing something that is divine in nature. But in order to do that, we have to slice away at our egos and try to get them down to a manageable size, and…” quote by John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-cleese-1768_learning_i-think-that-the-real-religion-is-about_2885642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-cleese-1768_learning_i-think-that-the-real-religion-is-about_2885642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-cleese-1768_learning_i-think-that-the-real-religion-is-about_2885642.jpg) > ““I think that the real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might have a chance of experiencing something that is divine in nature. But in order to do that, we have to slice away at our egos and try to get them down to a manageable size, and then still work some practiced light meditation. So real religion is about reducing our egos, whereas all the churches are interested in is egotistical activities, like getting as many members and raising as much money and becoming as important and high-profile and influential as possible. All of which are egotistical attitudes. So how can you have an egotistical organization trying to teach a non-egotistical ideal? It makes no sense, unless you regard religion as crowd control. What I think most organized religion—simply crowd control.”” [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion should diminish ego, but organized faith often amplifies ego for power and profit. **In simple terms:** Religion aims to quiet ego; institutions may exploit it. Key Takeaway Question ego, seek humility. Themes ego religion institution humility power Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal meditation - church reform - leadership training - community building Key Concepts spirituality psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals practice humility within ego‑driven institutions? - What structures encourage ego‑less spirituality? A Different Perspective Religious groups may resist true humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Organized religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [The real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might have a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/the-real-religion-is-about-the-understanding-that-if-we-can-only/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Negroes' problem is that they do not have their egos. That's why our churches end up having a white service, because our preacher is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/negroes-problem-is-that-they-do-not-have-their-egos-that-s-why-our/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I think that the real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/i-think-that-the-real-religion-is-about-the-understanding-that-if-we/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The only question that matters with regard to a religion and its mythology is “What do these stories mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/the-only-question-that-matters-with-regard-to-a-religion-and-its/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [“. . . in no instance has a system in regard to religion been ever established, but for the purpose, as well as with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/in-no-instance-has-a-system-in-regard-to-religion-been-ever/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [There's no reason to bring religion into it. I think we ought to have as great a regard for religion as we can, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-casey/there-s-no-reason-to-bring-religion-into-it-i-think-we-ought-to-have/) [Sean O'Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-casey/) > [If a religion does not teach love, respect, and regard for others, it cannot be the religion of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-muktananda/if-a-religion-does-not-teach-love-respect-and-regard-for-others-it/) [Swami Muktananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-muktananda/) > [Where Church and State are habitually associated, it is natural that minds, even of a high order, should unconsciously come to regard religion as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/where-church-and-state-are-habitually-associated-it-is-natural-that/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/in-regard-to-religion-mutual-toleration-in-the-different-professions/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [You must remember that we persecute nobody for religion. We regard religion as an error and fight it with education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalinin/you-must-remember-that-we-persecute-nobody-for-religion-we-regard/) [Mikhail Kalinin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalinin/) > [I'm an atheist. I suppose you can call me a sort of libertarian anarchist. I regard religion with fear and suspicion. It's not enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-m-an-atheist-i-suppose-you-can-call-me-a-sort-of-libertarian/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [When men take pleasure in feeling their minds elevated with strong drink, and so indulge their appetite as to disorder their understandings, neglect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-woolman/when-men-take-pleasure-in-feeling-their-minds-elevated-with-strong/) [John Woolman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-woolman/) > [A priest once quoted to me the Roman saying that a religion is dead when the priests laugh at each other across the altar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-priest-once-quoted-to-me-the-roman-saying-that-a-religion-is-dead/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Perhaps the greatest lesson \[Huxley\] learned from reading Carlyle was that real religion, that emotive feeling for Truth and Beauty, could flourish in the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-desmond/perhaps-the-greatest-lesson-huxley-learned-from-reading-carlyle-was/) Adrian Desmond > [Real religion is about, developing real character; character of compassion, character of humility, the character of determination to grow in all circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/real-religion-is-about-developing-real-character-character-of/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) ## More by John Cleese > [Too many people confuse being serious with being solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/too-many-people-confuse-being-serious-with-being-solemn/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [Nerves are always a big problem for me, which is why I loved doing American sitcoms. Because you know when you do the take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/nerves-are-always-a-big-problem-for-me-which-is-why-i-loved-doing/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [years ago we would have been burned for this. 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It's not a burden to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/everything-i-do-is-more-memorable-and-i-understand-music-more-than/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. 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Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) [Browse all 22,300 Learning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think that the real religion is about the understanding that if we can only still our egos for a few seconds, we might have a chance of experiencing something that is divine in nature. But in order to do that, we have to slice away at our egos and try to get them down to a manageable size, and then still work some practiced light meditation. So real religion is about reducing our egos, whereas all the churches are interested in is egotistical activities, like getting as many members and raising as much money and becoming as important and high-profile and influential as possible. All of which are egotistical attitudes. So how can you have an egotistical organization trying to teach a non-egotistical ideal? 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