Attributes Quote by Katherine Anne Porter
“Grant that the idea of God is the most splendid single act of the creative human imagination, and that all his multiple faces and attributes correspond to some need and satisfy some deep desire in mankind; still, for the Inquirers, it is impossible not to conclude that this mystical concept has been harnessed rudely to machinery of the most mundane sort, and has been made to serve the ends of an organization which, ruling under divine guidance, has ruled very little better, and in some respects, worse, than certain rather mediocre but frankly manmade systems of government.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Collected Essays of Katherine Anne Porter, 1965
Human imagination creates divine concepts to meet deep desires, but these can be misused by institutions.
In simple terms: People invent gods to fill needs; institutions may exploit that.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind sacred narratives.
Themes
myth
power
human nature
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- religious institutions
- political regimes
- corporate branding
Key Concepts
psychology
sociology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we seek divine justification?
- How can we guard against misuse?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing divinity can mask exploitation.
