--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God designs that we should enjoy…" description: "\"“God designs that we should enjoy ourselves. I do not believe in a religion that makes people gloomy, melancholy, miserable and ascetic. . . . I should..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/john-taylor-11046_religion_god-designs-that-we-should-enjoy-ourselv_2255266.png" --- # God designs that we should enjoy ourselves. I do not… ![“God designs that we should enjoy ourselves. I do not believe in a religion that makes people gloomy, melancholy, miserable and ascetic. . . . I should not think there was anything great or good associated with that, while everything around, the trees, birds, flowers and green fields, were so…” quote by John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/john-taylor-11046_religion_god-designs-that-we-should-enjoy-ourselv_2255266.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/john-taylor-11046_religion_god-designs-that-we-should-enjoy-ourselv_2255266.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c80/john-taylor-11046_religion_god-designs-that-we-should-enjoy-ourselv_2255266.png) > ““God designs that we should enjoy ourselves. I do not believe in a religion that makes people gloomy, melancholy, miserable and ascetic. . . . I should not think there was anything great or good associated with that, while everything around, the trees, birds, flowers and green fields, were so pleasing, the insects and bees buzzing and fluttering, the lambs frolicking and playing. While everything else enjoyed life, why should not we? But we want to do it correctly and not pervert any of these principles that God has planted in the human family.”” [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that divine intention is for humans to enjoy life, rejecting gloomy religious asceticism in favor of appreciating nature and joy. **In simple terms:** God wants us to enjoy life, not be miserable. Key Takeaway Embrace joy without compromising moral principles. Themes joy nature religion ethics Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - community gatherings - environmental appreciation Key Concepts theodicy human flourishing spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance joy with moral responsibility? - What practices allow enjoyment without excess? A Different Perspective Religious teachings often emphasize sacrifice over pleasure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ascetic Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ascetic-think-5167188/) [Enjoy Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-believe-1452937/) [God Designs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-designs-889638/) [God Planted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-planted-717681/) [Principles God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-god-746352/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [You're a woman, enjoy yourself, and believe that you can do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/you-re-a-woman-enjoy-yourself-and-believe-that-you-can-do-things/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [One cannot but mistrust a prospect of felicity: one must enjoy it before one can believe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/one-cannot-but-mistrust-a-prospect-of-felicity-one-must-enjoy-it/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [God's designs may be frequent justification for our actions, but it is we, the self-made men, who take the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/god-s-designs-may-be-frequent-justification-for-our-actions-but-it-is/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) > [God designs people's emotions so you fall in love with people who, in return, wouldn't even use your hollowed-out skull for a spittoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/god-designs-people-s-emotions-so-you-fall-in-love-with-people-who-in/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“That which God designs, in smiting us, is to turn us to himself and to set us a seeking him; and, if this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cahn/that-which-god-designs-in-smiting-us-is-to-turn-us-to-himself-and-to/) [Jonathan Cahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cahn/) > [The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-happiness-which-god-designs-for-his-higher-creatures-is-the-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are here for God's designs, not for our own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-here-for-god-s-designs-not-for-our-own/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [God designs what we go through in life, but WE decide how we go through it. In anything and everything the best plan begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-designs-what-we-go-through-in-life-but-we-decide-how-we-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's designs regarding you, and His methods of bringing about these designs, are infinitely wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/god-s-designs-regarding-you-and-his-methods-of-bringing-about-these/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [The happiness which God designs for his higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-happiness-which-god-designs-for-his-higher-creatures-is-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Those whom God designs for preferment he clothes with humility; the most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-whom-god-designs-for-preferment-he-clothes-with-humility-the/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [A good man is willing to know the worst of himself, and particularly under affliction, desires to be told wherefore God contends with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/a-good-man-is-willing-to-know-the-worst-of-himself-and-particularly/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [God designs that those whom He sanctifies...shall tarry awhile in this present evil world, that their own experience of temptations may teach them how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/god-designs-that-those-whom-he-sanctifies-shall-tarry-awhile-in-this/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [“There's a French saying, ‘Où le Dieu a vous semé, il faut savoir fleurir.’ Let's see, ‘Wherever God has planted you, you must know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-furst/there-s-a-french-saying-o-le-dieu-a-vous-sem-il-faut-savoir-fleurir/) [Alan Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-furst/) > [God planted the seeds of all the trees," continued Hetty, after a moment's pause, "and you see to what a height and shade they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-planted-the-seeds-of-all-the-trees-continued-hetty-after-a-moment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Taylor > [A man, as a man, could arrive at all the dignity that a man was capable of obtaining or receiving; but it needed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/a-man-as-a-man-could-arrive-at-all-the-dignity-that-a-man-was-capable/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [If you do not magnify your calling, God will hold you responsible for those who you might have saved-had you done your duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/if-you-do-not-magnify-your-calling-god-will-hold-you-responsible-for/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [When the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted, those high contracting parties did positively agree that they would not interfere with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/when-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-was-framed-and-adopted/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [I used to think, if I were the Lord, I would not suffer people to be tried as they are. 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If he is its Author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/in-every-principle-presented-to-us-our-first-inquiry-should-be-is-it/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“Peace is the gift of God. Do you want peace? Go to God. Do you want peace in your families? Go to God. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/peace-is-the-gift-of-god-do-you-want-peace-go-to-god-do-you-want/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [We believe in honesty, morality, and purity; but when they enact tyrannical laws, forbidding us the free exercise of our religion, we cannot submit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/we-believe-in-honesty-morality-and-purity-but-when-they-enact/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [And though I ebb in worth, I'll flow in thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/and-though-i-ebb-in-worth-i-ll-flow-in-thanks/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [ “In a manner to us incomprehensible and inexplicable, \[the Savior\] bore the weight of the sins of the whole world; not only of Adam,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/in-a-manner-to-us-incomprehensible-and-inexplicable-the-savior-bore/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [“Show and prove to the world, to angels and to God, that you are on the side of truth and right, of honesty, purity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/show-and-prove-to-the-world-to-angels-and-to-god-that-you-are-on-the/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) > [In fact he enables us not by making us supernaturally strong, but by opening our eyes. The Holy Spirit is that power which opens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor/in-fact-he-enables-us-not-by-making-us-supernaturally-strong-but-by/) [John Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) [Explore all 62 John Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor/) ## More Religion quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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