--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It had to do with the knowledge that the…" description: "\"“It had to do with the knowledge that the world was as it was because of what men believed it was... year by year, these past three or four generations..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/marion-zimmer-bradley-2906_holy-places_it-had-to-do-with-the-knowledge-that-the_1598380.jpg" --- # It had to do with the knowledge that the world was as it… ![“It had to do with the knowledge that the world was as it was because of what men believed it was... year by year, these past three or four generations, the minds of men had been hardened to believing that there was one God, one world, one way of describing reality, and that all things which…” quote by Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/marion-zimmer-bradley-2906_holy-places_it-had-to-do-with-the-knowledge-that-the_1598380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/marion-zimmer-bradley-2906_holy-places_it-had-to-do-with-the-knowledge-that-the_1598380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/marion-zimmer-bradley-2906_holy-places_it-had-to-do-with-the-knowledge-that-the_1598380.jpg) > ““It had to do with the knowledge that the world was as it was because of what men believed it was... year by year, these past three or four generations, the minds of men had been hardened to believing that there was one God, one world, one way of describing reality, and that all things which intruded on the realm of that great one-ness must be evil and of the fiends, and that the sound of the bells and the shadow of their holy places would keep the evil afar. And as more and more people believed this, it was so, and Avalon no more than a dream adrift in an almost inaccessible other world”” [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Belief in a single truth hardens minds, making alternative realities seem evil. **In simple terms:** Dogma blocks open thinking. Key Takeaway Question assumptions, seek diverse perspectives. Themes philosophy religion mindset Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - interfaith dialogue - creative writing - spiritual exploration Key Concepts epistemology cultural hegemony Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs have you examined lately? - How does openness change perception? A Different Perspective Rigid beliefs can limit personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Four generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-generations/) [Holy places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-places/) ## Related quotes > [No, we believed in ourselves all year. That's the position you want to be in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/no-we-believed-in-ourselves-all-year-that-s-the-position-you-want-to/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. A woman's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-by-a-woodland-stream-he-watched-the-water-rush-over-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I must remind you that our credulity is not to be measured by the truth of the things we believe. When men believed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-must-remind-you-that-our-credulity-is-not-to-be-measured-by-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“(smile not, reader, for those were days in which men believed in the devil);”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/smile-not-reader-for-those-were-days-in-which-men-believed-in-the/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“Destiny was a hope found in the hearts of desperate men. But sometimes, if they believed strongly enough, desperate men could do great things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/destiny-was-a-hope-found-in-the-hearts-of-desperate-men-but-sometimes/) [A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/) > [This Nation was established by men who believed in God. ... You will see the evidence of this deep religious faith on every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/this-nation-was-established-by-men-who-believed-in-god-you-will-see/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ “That many good men have believed this strange fable \[Christianity\], and lived very good lives under that belief (for credulity is not a crime)… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/that-many-good-men-have-believed-this-strange-fable-christianity-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [ “The publisher said of somebody, 'That man will get on; he believes in himself.' \[...\] I said to him, 'Shall I tell you where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-publisher-said-of-somebody-that-man-will-get-on-he-believes-in/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [It is impossible to believe anything into existence. The gospel did not come into being because men believed it...The fact always precedes the faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/it-is-impossible-to-believe-anything-into-existence-the-gospel-did/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/the-streets-are-extended-gutters-and-the-gutters-are-full-of-blood/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [“They both possessed a victimhood that had been conferred because they'd both been guilty of being female in a world where some men believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/they-both-possessed-a-victimhood-that-had-been-conferred-because-they/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [Faith is a kind of winged intellect. The great workmen of history have been men who believed like giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-henry-parkhurst/faith-is-a-kind-of-winged-intellect-the-great-workmen-of-history-have/) [Charles Henry Parkhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-henry-parkhurst/) > [What terrible questions we are learning to ask! The former men believed in magic, by which temples, cities, and men were swallowed up, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-terrible-questions-we-are-learning-to-ask-the-former-men/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The advertising men made it clear that there were two ways of looking at ideas in a war against fascism. Those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/the-advertising-men-made-it-clear-that-there-were-two-ways-of-looking/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [“Most of the world's ills, it seemed to him, were caused by men who believed themselves important: on a good day it always ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-plater/most-of-the-world-s-ills-it-seemed-to-him-were-caused-by-men-who/) Alan Plater ## More by Marion Zimmer Bradley > [I do tend to lose track since the kids are out of school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/i-do-tend-to-lose-track-since-the-kids-are-out-of-school/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“this is the great secret, which was known to all educated men in our day: that by what men think, we create the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/this-is-the-great-secret-which-was-known-to-all-educated-men-in-our/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“He was guarded behind a hundred fences of reserve and anger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/he-was-guarded-behind-a-hundred-fences-of-reserve-and-anger/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“My love for you is a prayer, she thought. Love is the only prayer I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/my-love-for-you-is-a-prayer-she-thought-love-is-the-only-prayer-i-know/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“It is hardly lonely in a nunnery, son, with other women. And God is there." Morgause said, "I would rather dwell in a hermitage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/it-is-hardly-lonely-in-a-nunnery-son-with-other-women-and-god-is/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“Customs have no reason; they simply are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/customs-have-no-reason-they-simply-are/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“Beat me instead," she cried, "It's not Darren's fault! I lost her, I let her go--I cannot be free, I must be chained inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/beat-me-instead-she-cried-it-s-not-darren-s-fault-i-lost-her-i-let/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“For this is the thing the priests do not know, with their One God and One Truth; that there is no such thing as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/for-this-is-the-thing-the-priests-do-not-know-with-their-one-god-and/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [I have neither talent or taste for kingship, cousin. I am a warrior, and to dwell always in one place and live at court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/i-have-neither-talent-or-taste-for-kingship-cousin-i-am-a-warrior-and/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [Fear is a way of not allowing yourself to choose freely what you will do next; a way of letting your body's reflexes, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/fear-is-a-way-of-not-allowing-yourself-to-choose-freely-what-you-will/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“But I am Niniane of Avalon, and I account to no man on this earth for what I do with what is mine --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/but-i-am-niniane-of-avalon-and-i-account-to-no-man-on-this-earth-for/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“ They set down all their knowledge on bits of leather or waxed wood or tablets of stone and think that is wisdom. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/they-set-down-all-their-knowledge-on-bits-of-leather-or-waxed-wood-or/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“ghosts. He had learned a little of the history of Halyn House”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/ghosts-he-had-learned-a-little-of-the-history-of-halyn-house/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [And I must believe that man has the power to know the right, to choose between good and evil and know that his choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/and-i-must-believe-that-man-has-the-power-to-know-the-right-to-choose/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [Arthur, their young king, like a hero out of legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/arthur-their-young-king-like-a-hero-out-of-legend/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) [Explore all 136 Marion Zimmer Bradley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) ## More Four generations quotes > [I knew I could never match my father as a violinist, and there were already four generations of outstanding cellists in the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-knew-i-could-never-match-my-father-as-a-violinist-and-there-were/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [“But one of them had on an Army medal, a service medal, something like that. Do you know all of Chad's Army friends?" Radke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/but-one-of-them-had-on-an-army-medal-a-service-medal-something-like/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [Among the upper classes, especially three or four generations ago, men and women had separate bedrooms. That's just the way it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/among-the-upper-classes-especially-three-or-four-generations-ago-men/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [It takes four generations to recover from every act of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-adamson/it-takes-four-generations-to-recover-from-every-act-of-violence/) [Rebecca Adamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-adamson/) > [Being in the public eye is easy for me because I come from a family of four generations of teachers, so I'm used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/being-in-the-public-eye-is-easy-for-me-because-i-come-from-a-family/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [“Not surprisingly, there's nothing to do at the Pentagon except start a war. Tourist aren't even allowed to take photos with the building in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-beatty/not-surprisingly-there-s-nothing-to-do-at-the-pentagon-except-start-a/) [Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-beatty/) > [Like a lot of us, sometimes I'm preaching to the choir, and sometimes my voice doesn't even get heard at all. Sometimes I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/like-a-lot-of-us-sometimes-i-m-preaching-to-the-choir-and-sometimes/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Texas is my mind's country, that place I most want to understand and record and preserve. Four generations of my people sleep in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-l-king/texas-is-my-mind-s-country-that-place-i-most-want-to-understand-and/) [Larry L. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-l-king/) > [It's not so weird that four generations are living together under the same roof and trying to make it work. It's how a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/it-s-not-so-weird-that-four-generations-are-living-together-under-the/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [The two mistakes that come to mind are people who introduce a flood of characters in the first few pages. Where the reader has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/the-two-mistakes-that-come-to-mind-are-people-who-introduce-a-flood/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [the miserable specimens who call themselves ' liberals ' are really conservatives: they're desperately even hysterically defending a welfare-warfare kleptocracy that is now at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/the-miserable-specimens-who-call-themselves-liberals-are-really/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [“The boat was vacuum-packed with Albanians, four generations to a family: great-grandmother, air-dried like a chilli pepper, deep red skin and a hot temper;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/the-boat-was-vacuum-packed-with-albanians-four-generations-to-a/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I think it's going to take three or four generations of gay people being able to get married before it starts feeling less like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-think-it-s-going-to-take-three-or-four-generations-of-gay-people/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [“Four generations of women--"I'm a woman," Mary said to herself--heading off on a journey in a car. One of the dead, one of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-doyle/four-generations-of-women-i-m-a-woman-mary-said-to-herself-heading/) [Roddy Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-doyle/) > [Eighteen might look at thirty-four through a rising mist of adolescence, but twenty-two would see thirty-eight with discerning clarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/eighteen-might-look-at-thirty-four-through-a-rising-mist-of/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 32 Four generations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-generations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It had to do with the knowledge that the world was as it was because of what men believed it was... year by year, these past three or four generations, the minds of men had been hardened to believing that there was one God, one world, one way of describing reality, and that all things which intruded on the realm of that great one-ness must be evil and of the fiends, and that the sound of the bells and the shadow of their holy places would keep the evil afar. 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