Religion Quote by Marquis de Sade
““What, then, are religions if not the restraint wherewith the tyranny of the mightier sought to enslave the weaker? Motivated by that design, he dared say to him whom he claimed the right to dominate, that a God had forged the irons with which cruelty manacled him; and the latter, bestialized by his misery, indistinctly believed everything the former wished. Can religions, born of these rogueries, merit respect?””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Philosophical Thoughts on Religion, 1785
Religion is portrayed as a tool of oppression where the powerful impose control over the weak, using divine authority to justify cruelty.
In simple terms: Religion as oppression.
Key Takeaway
Question against oppressive doctrines.
Themes
power
oppression
religion
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- human rights activism
- theological debate
Key Concepts
authority
domination
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can faith be a source of liberation rather than subjugation?
- How do individuals resist religious oppression?
A Different Perspective
Critics argue faith can also empower resistance and community resilience.
![“The law which attempts a man's life [capital punishment] is impractical, unjust, inadmissible. It has never repressed crime--for a second crime is every day committed at the foot of the scaffold.” quote by Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b85/marquis-de-sade-1964_capital-punishment_the-law-which-attempts-a-man-s-life-capi_99486.jpg)
