--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s when I have to ask him. “Can you…" description: "\"“That’s when I have to ask him. “Can you really talk like that? Being holy and all?” “What? Because I’m a priest?” He finishes the dregs of his coffee...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/markus-zusak-165_cursing_that-s-when-i-have-to-ask-him-can-you-re_2259857.jpg" --- # That’s when I have to ask him. “Can you really talk like… ![“That’s when I have to ask him. “Can you really talk like that? Being holy and all?” “What? Because I’m a priest?” He finishes the dregs of his coffee. “Sure. God knows what’s important.” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/markus-zusak-165_cursing_that-s-when-i-have-to-ask-him-can-you-re_2259857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/markus-zusak-165_cursing_that-s-when-i-have-to-ask-him-can-you-re_2259857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f41/markus-zusak-165_cursing_that-s-when-i-have-to-ask-him-can-you-re_2259857.jpg) > ““That’s when I have to ask him. “Can you really talk like that? Being holy and all?” “What? Because I’m a priest?” He finishes the dregs of his coffee. “Sure. God knows what’s important.”” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dialogue questions a priest’s authenticity, suggesting that divine insight transcends formal titles and that true importance lies beyond surface roles. **In simple terms:** God cares more than titles. Key Takeaway Seek deeper purpose beyond roles. Themes faith authenticity authority Mood philosophical contemplative Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - religion - personal growth - leadership - dialogue Key Concepts spirituality identity purpose Questions to Reflect On - What defines true spiritual authority? - How to discern genuine purpose? A Different Perspective Authority can be misused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cursing/) [Cussing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cussing/) [God knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-knows/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Holy Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy-priest-5195290/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Like Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-holy-1200510/) [Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest/) [Priest Finishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest-finishes-5195291/) ## Related quotes > [“If you want to get rid of the perceived meaning of curse words, you’ll have to get rid of the feelings which bring their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-winters/if-you-want-to-get-rid-of-the-perceived-meaning-of-curse-words-you-ll/) [Orlando Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-winters/) > [“Why use profanity in real life and writing? Because sometimes 'darn it' just doesn't cut it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-patricks/why-use-profanity-in-real-life-and-writing-because-sometimes-darn-it/) [Jacqueline Patricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-patricks/) > [“There is no one like the Holy God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-no-one-like-the-holy-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Thug Life hit me like the Holy ghost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/thug-life-hit-me-like-the-holy-ghost/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“A slave was supposed to be like the Holy Ghost—don’t see it, don’t hear it, but it’s always hovering round on ready.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/a-slave-was-supposed-to-be-like-the-holy-ghost-don-t-see-it-don-t/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [I believe that - if you are serious about a life of writing, or indeed about any creative form of expression - that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-believe-that-if-you-are-serious-about-a-life-of-writing-or-indeed/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Holy mother!" "Hmph. More like holy father. I'd think you'd know the difference." -Hephaetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/holy-mother-hmph-more-like-holy-father-i-d-think-you-d-know-the/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer were like the holy Trinity for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/cheri-oteri-molly-shannon-and-ana-gasteyer-were-like-the-holy-trinity/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [“Part those sheets like holy waters and I will worship you skin like a born-again believer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-knott-gregson/part-those-sheets-like-holy-waters-and-i-will-worship-you-skin-like-a/) [Tyler Knott Gregson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-knott-gregson/) > [“Oh you're in my blood like holy wine You taste so bitter and so sweet Oh I could drink a case of you darling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/oh-you-re-in-my-blood-like-holy-wine-you-taste-so-bitter-and-so-sweet/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [We ought to fly away from earth to heaven as quickly as we can; and to fly away is to become like God, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-ought-to-fly-away-from-earth-to-heaven-as-quickly-as-we-can-and-to/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Damnú air." "You're cussing!" "I refuse to admit to uttering bad words in any language." Patrick grinned and his teeth flashed white. "Jenny has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bardsley/damn-air-you-re-cussing-i-refuse-to-admit-to-uttering-bad-words-in/) [Michele Bardsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bardsley/) > [“Fils de putain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-bond/fils-de-putain/) [Stephanie Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-bond/) > [“What the hell? He needs to get over his damn issue with cussing. They’re sentence enhancers. In fact, when I think about it, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-vester/what-the-hell-he-needs-to-get-over-his-damn-issue-with-cussing-they/) [Jennifer Vester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-vester/) > [My mom was very strict. She didn't let me watch anything rated R or anything with cussing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/my-mom-was-very-strict-she-didn-t-let-me-watch-anything-rated-r-or/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More Cursing quotes > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [Cursing like a sailor don't make you cool -Stephanie Mayfield.(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie/cursing-like-a-sailor-don-t-make-you-cool-stephanie-mayfield/) [Stephanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Let me go to hell, that's all i ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/let-me-go-to-hell-that-s-all-i-ask/) [Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/) > [Stealing swords,” Royce muttered mostly to himself. “Okay, let’s take a look at this tower. The sooner I see it, the sooner I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/stealing-swords-royce-muttered-mostly-to-himself-okay-let-s-take-a/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“I don't understand women that call themselves a "bitch". It doesn't empower a woman. Rather, it reveals to everyone that you were deeply hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/i-don-t-understand-women-that-call-themselves-a-bitch-it-doesn-t/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [If the Soul sees, after death , what passes on this earth , and watches over the welfare of those it loves, then must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/if-the-soul-sees-after-death-what-passes-on-this-earth-and-watches/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Behind her, Jace moved out into the water with a contained grace that barely rippled the surface. Simon behind him, was splashing and cursing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/behind-her-jace-moved-out-into-the-water-with-a-contained-grace-that/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [We've got to stop crying and start sweating, stop talking and start walking, stop cursing and start praying. The strength we need will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-ve-got-to-stop-crying-and-start-sweating-stop-talking-and-start/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Hope works in these ways: it looks for the good in people instead of harping on the worst; it discovers what can be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/hope-works-in-these-ways-it-looks-for-the-good-in-people-instead-of/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The human qualities of the raw materials show through. 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