Christianity Quote by Mark Twain
““Satan laughed his unkind laugh to a finish; then he said: "It is a remarkable progress. In five or six thousand years five or six high civilizations have risen, flourished, commanded the wonder of the world, then faded out and disappeared; and not one of them except the latest ever invented any sweeping and adequate way to kill people. They all did their best--to kill being the chiefest ambition of the human race and the earliest incident in its history--but only the Christian civilization has scored a triumph to be proud of. Two or three centuries from now it will be recognized that all the competent killers are Christians; then the pagan world will go to school to the Christian--not to acquire his religion, but his guns. The Turk and the Chinaman will buy those to kill missionaries and converts with.””
About This Quote
The quote satirically claims Christian civilization uniquely mastered large‑scale killing, suggesting future admiration of its military prowess rather than its faith.
In simple terms: Christians are portrayed as the ultimate killers, and their weapons will be envied.
Key Takeaway
Power can eclipse moral narratives.
Themes
war
civilization
satire
religion
technology
Mood
cynical
ironic
Type
satirical
historical
When to use this quote
- military history classes
- discussions on religious justification of war
Key Concepts
historical cycles
moral relativism
Practical Applications
- critically examine narratives of moral superiority
- separate ethical assessment from technological achievement
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports or refutes the claim of Christian uniqueness in killing?
- How does satire affect our perception of historical truth?
A Different Perspective
Overgeneralizes complex history and ignores non‑Christian contributions to warfare.
