--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For Heaven’s sake, Adrian, do you think…" description: "\"“For Heaven’s sake, Adrian, do you think Intelligence consists of unassailable philosophical truths? Does every priest have to prove that Christ was bo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/john-le-carre-651_christmas-day_for-heaven-s-sake-adrian-do-you-think-in_820363.jpg" --- # For Heaven’s sake, Adrian, do you think Intelligence… ![“For Heaven’s sake, Adrian, do you think Intelligence consists of unassailable philosophical truths? Does every priest have to prove that Christ was born on Christmas Day?” quote by John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/john-le-carre-651_christmas-day_for-heaven-s-sake-adrian-do-you-think-in_820363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/john-le-carre-651_christmas-day_for-heaven-s-sake-adrian-do-you-think-in_820363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/john-le-carre-651_christmas-day_for-heaven-s-sake-adrian-do-you-think-in_820363.jpg) > ““For Heaven’s sake, Adrian, do you think Intelligence consists of unassailable philosophical truths? Does every priest have to prove that Christ was born on Christmas Day?”” [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is not absolute; it is shaped by perspective, and even experts can be challenged by questioning assumptions. **In simple terms:** Intelligence is not fixed; questioning reveals its limits. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and stay skeptical. Themes philosophy skepticism critical thinking Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic debate - political discourse - media analysis - personal belief systems Key Concepts epistemology truth religion authority Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you hold about truth? - How does questioning authority change your view? A Different Perspective Absolute truths are rare; cultural and personal biases affect what is considered knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christmas day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-day/) ## Related quotes > [Let me put it more precisely: The ability to give birth is a natural characteristic. In the same way, everybody can grasp philosophical truths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/let-me-put-it-more-precisely-the-ability-to-give-birth-is-a-natural/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [“True freedom in Christ comes when you realize you have nothing to prove to anyone, because in Christ, God fully approves of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/true-freedom-in-christ-comes-when-you-realize-you-have-nothing-to/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [“One does not have to be a priest to be a man!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/one-does-not-have-to-be-a-priest-to-be-a-man/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Miramax seems to be showing the same faith in Roberto Benigni's 'Pinocchio' that the Republican Party showed in Trent Lott; the live-action version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/miramax-seems-to-be-showing-the-same-faith-in-roberto-benigni-s/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [Opening presents at midnight on Christmas Eve - midnight! As soon as it turns to Christmas Day, we're opening those gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-grande/opening-presents-at-midnight-on-christmas-eve-midnight-as-soon-as-it/) [Frankie Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-grande/) > [On Christmas Day 2016, the greatest singer songwriter of his generation, an icon of his era, George Michael, was lost. A supernova in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ridgeley/on-christmas-day-2016-the-greatest-singer-songwriter-of-his/) [Andrew Ridgeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ridgeley/) > [Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thomas-ellis/blessed-is-the-season-which-engages-the-whole-world-in-a-conspiracy/) William Thomas Ellis > [God rest ye, little children; let nothing you afright, For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night; Along the hills of Galilee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/god-rest-ye-little-children-let-nothing-you-afright-for-jesus-christ/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a Wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/what-can-i-give-him-poor-as-i-am-if-i-were-a-shepherd-i-would-bring-a/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [I know that you observe Christmas Day as you learned it at home. I do not observe it. However, as assistant director of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odilo-globocnik/i-know-that-you-observe-christmas-day-as-you-learned-it-at-home-i-do/) Odilo Globocnik > [Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/christmas-day-is-a-day-of-joy-and-charity-may-god-make-you-very-rich/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [“In all my twenty years of wandering over the restless waters of the globe I can only remember one Christmas Day celebrated by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/in-all-my-twenty-years-of-wandering-over-the-restless-waters-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I think it's important not to grow up too fast. I'm 26 now, and I still can't wait for Christmas Day. The inner seven-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-haddock/i-think-it-s-important-not-to-grow-up-too-fast-i-m-26-now-and-i-still/) [Laura Haddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-haddock/) > [I was nine or 10 years old and my father was sacked on Christmas Day. He was a manager, the results had not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/i-was-nine-or-10-years-old-and-my-father-was-sacked-on-christmas-day/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [I love the royal family. I even got up in the middle of the night to watch Kate and William's wedding. And I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-love-the-royal-family-i-even-got-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) ## More by John le Carré > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/during-the-cold-war-we-lived-in-coded-times-when-it-wasn-t-easy-and/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“You're history, Donohue. You think countries run the fucking world! Go back to fucking Sunday school. It's 'God save our multinational' they're singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/you-re-history-donohue-you-think-countries-run-the-fucking-world-go/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty quickly. I'd just like to get a few more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/when-you-re-my-age-and-you-see-a-story-you-better-go-for-it-pretty/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The trouble is, when professional spies go out of their way to make a definitive statement about one of their own, the public tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-trouble-is-when-professional-spies-go-out-of-their-way-to-make-a/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Ideologies have no heart of their own. They're the whores and angels of our striving selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/ideologies-have-no-heart-of-their-own-they-re-the-whores-and-angels/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Home's where you go when you run out of homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/home-s-where-you-go-when-you-run-out-of-homes/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“Pain observed is journalistic pain. It's diplomatic pain. It's television pain, over as soon as you switch off your beastly set.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/pain-observed-is-journalistic-pain-it-s-diplomatic-pain-it-s/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism lies, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-comes-from-the-renunciation-of/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“and the wood smoke will roll out of the fireplace on to the carpet we paid too much for on that rainy afternoon in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/and-the-wood-smoke-will-roll-out-of-the-fireplace-on-to-the-carpet-we/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“Middle children weep longer than their brothers and sisters. Over her mother’s shoulder, stilling her pains and her injured pride, Jackie Lacon watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/middle-children-weep-longer-than-their-brothers-and-sisters-over-her/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/for-decades-to-come-the-spy-world-will-continue-to-be-the-collective/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I happen to write by hand. I don't even type. John Le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-happen-to-write-by-hand-i-don-t-even-type-john-le-carre/) [John Le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The more identities a man has, the more they express the person they conceal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-more-identities-a-man-has-the-more-they-express-the-person-they/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) [Explore all 409 John le Carré quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## More Christmas day quotes > [I love the royal family. I even got up in the middle of the night to watch Kate and William's wedding. And I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-love-the-royal-family-i-even-got-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [I was nine or 10 years old and my father was sacked on Christmas Day. He was a manager, the results had not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/i-was-nine-or-10-years-old-and-my-father-was-sacked-on-christmas-day/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [I think it's important not to grow up too fast. I'm 26 now, and I still can't wait for Christmas Day. The inner seven-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-haddock/i-think-it-s-important-not-to-grow-up-too-fast-i-m-26-now-and-i-still/) [Laura Haddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-haddock/) > [“In all my twenty years of wandering over the restless waters of the globe I can only remember one Christmas Day celebrated by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/in-all-my-twenty-years-of-wandering-over-the-restless-waters-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/christmas-day-is-a-day-of-joy-and-charity-may-god-make-you-very-rich/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [I know that you observe Christmas Day as you learned it at home. I do not observe it. However, as assistant director of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odilo-globocnik/i-know-that-you-observe-christmas-day-as-you-learned-it-at-home-i-do/) Odilo Globocnik > [What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a Wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/what-can-i-give-him-poor-as-i-am-if-i-were-a-shepherd-i-would-bring-a/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [God rest ye, little children; let nothing you afright, For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night; Along the hills of Galilee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/god-rest-ye-little-children-let-nothing-you-afright-for-jesus-christ/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thomas-ellis/blessed-is-the-season-which-engages-the-whole-world-in-a-conspiracy/) William Thomas Ellis > [On Christmas Day 2016, the greatest singer songwriter of his generation, an icon of his era, George Michael, was lost. A supernova in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ridgeley/on-christmas-day-2016-the-greatest-singer-songwriter-of-his/) [Andrew Ridgeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ridgeley/) > [Opening presents at midnight on Christmas Eve - midnight! As soon as it turns to Christmas Day, we're opening those gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-grande/opening-presents-at-midnight-on-christmas-eve-midnight-as-soon-as-it/) [Frankie Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-grande/) > [Miramax seems to be showing the same faith in Roberto Benigni's 'Pinocchio' that the Republican Party showed in Trent Lott; the live-action version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/miramax-seems-to-be-showing-the-same-faith-in-roberto-benigni-s/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [Here's me opening my wrists before breakfast, Christmas day, and here's you asking if it hurt. Here's where I choose between mea culpa and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-donaghy/here-s-me-opening-my-wrists-before-breakfast-christmas-day-and-here-s/) [Michael Donaghy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-donaghy/) > [When we made 'Life in a Day,' we asked people around the globe to record their lives on a single ordinary day. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-macdonald/when-we-made-life-in-a-day-we-asked-people-around-the-globe-to-record/) [Kevin Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-macdonald/) > [The great majority of people will go on observing forms that cannot be explained; they will keep Christmas Day with Christmas gifts and Christmas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-majority-of-people-will-go-on-observing-forms-that-cannot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 204 Christmas day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For Heaven’s sake, Adrian, do you think Intelligence consists of unassailable philosophical truths? 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