--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I mean I think that's a fact and I think…" description: "\"I mean I think that's a fact and I think that we had a very peculiar type of Catholic Church here in that it was a fortress Church.\" — John McGahern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-mcgahern-11742_catholic_i-mean-i-think-that-s-a-fact-and-i-think_1860153.jpg" --- # I mean I think that's a fact and I think that we had a… ![“I mean I think that's a fact and I think that we had a very peculiar type of Catholic Church here in that it was a fortress Church.” quote by John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-mcgahern-11742_catholic_i-mean-i-think-that-s-a-fact-and-i-think_1860153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-mcgahern-11742_catholic_i-mean-i-think-that-s-a-fact-and-i-think_1860153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/945/john-mcgahern-11742_catholic_i-mean-i-think-that-s-a-fact-and-i-think_1860153.jpg) > “I mean I think that's a fact and I think that we had a very peculiar type of Catholic Church here in that it was a fortress Church.” [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes the Catholic Church as a protective, isolated institution with unique characteristics. **In simple terms:** The Church acted like a fortified, distinct community. Key Takeaway Recognize institutional influences on society. Themes religion community identity Mood reflective critical Type literary analytical When to use this quote - historical analysis - social studies - faith discussions Key Concepts fortress metaphor cultural uniqueness Questions to Reflect On - What does “fortress” imply about authority? - How does this view affect modern perception? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex religious dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-church/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fortresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortresses/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/prayer-is-a-strong-wall-and-fortress-of-the-church-it-is-a-goodly/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“The image of the Church favored by the Pope is that of a “field hospital” that welcomes in those injured and heals their wounds. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-milavec/the-image-of-the-church-favored-by-the-pope-is-that-of-a-field/) [Aaron Milavec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-milavec/) > [There is not an enemy so stout, as to storm and take the fortress of the mind, Unless its infirmity turn traitor, and Fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/there-is-not-an-enemy-so-stout-as-to-storm-and-take-the-fortress-of/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Fighting men are the city's fortress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcaeus/fighting-men-are-the-city-s-fortress/) [Alcaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcaeus/) > [Rahul Dravid being known as 'The Wall' is pretty much spot on. 'The fortress' could also describe Rahul. Because once, Dravid was set, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-warne/rahul-dravid-being-known-as-the-wall-is-pretty-much-spot-on-the/) [Shane Warne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-warne/) > [Silence, always my fortress, sometimes my prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marsden/silence-always-my-fortress-sometimes-my-prison/) [John Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marsden/) > [ Look what \[Chinese\] are doing, they're building a massive fortress against everything. A massive fortress in the South China Sea. And yet they're ripping… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/look-what-chinese-are-doing-they-re-building-a-massive-fortress/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Pain plants the flag of truth within a rebel fortress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/pain-plants-the-flag-of-truth-within-a-rebel-fortress/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Wherever my work may take me in the near future even if you should see me one day within the fortress - you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hjalmar-schacht/wherever-my-work-may-take-me-in-the-near-future-even-if-you-should/) [Hjalmar Schacht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hjalmar-schacht/) > [The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-best-fortress-which-a-prince-can-possess-is-the-affection-of-his/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Suddenly finding myself imprisoned in the ruins of the fortresses I created, I realize that that which I built to protect me has now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/suddenly-finding-myself-imprisoned-in-the-ruins-of-the-fortresses-i/) [Craig D. 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This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) ## More by John McGahern > [“They'd listen silenty, with grave faces: but once they'd turn to each other they'd smile cruelly. He couldn't have it both ways. He'd put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/they-d-listen-silenty-with-grave-faces-but-once-they-d-turn-to-each/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [“…But all life turns away from its own eventual hopelessness, leaving insomnia and its night to lovers and the dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/but-all-life-turns-away-from-its-own-eventual-hopelessness-leaving/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [Yes, but also one of the problems for a novelist in Ireland is the fact that there are no formal manners. I mean some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/yes-but-also-one-of-the-problems-for-a-novelist-in-ireland-is-the/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [My favorite optimist was an American who jumped off the Empire State Building, and as he passed the 42nd floor, the window washers heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/my-favorite-optimist-was-an-american-who-jumped-off-the-empire-state/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [The imagination demands that life be told slant because of its need of distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/the-imagination-demands-that-life-be-told-slant-because-of-its-need/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [“When a long abuse of power is corrected, it is generally replaced by an opposite violence. 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I mean, you just get it down the way it was . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/i-suppose-in-writing-you-can-t-have-regrets-i-mean-you-just-get-it/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) > [“…only then did I wake out of the book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcgahern/only-then-did-i-wake-out-of-the-book/) [John McGahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) [Explore all 58 John McGahern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcgahern/) ## More Catholic quotes > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. 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We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [I grew up with a religious background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-grew-up-with-a-religious-background/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) > [“Even at the tender age of twelve, when I knelt in front of the bishop for my confirmation, I had the sneaking suspicion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-edwards/even-at-the-tender-age-of-twelve-when-i-knelt-in-front-of-the-bishop/) Megan Edwards > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. 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