--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man needs a religion to conduct…" description: "\"If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind or a corrupt heart.\" — Ninon de L'E..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png" --- # If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in… ![“If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind or a corrupt heart.” quote by Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png) > “If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind or a corrupt heart.” [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes reliance on religion as a moral guide, suggesting limited intellect or corrupt intent. **In simple terms:** Religion as a moral crutch is flawed. Key Takeaway Seek ethical reasoning beyond doctrine. Themes morality religion critique Mood skeptical critical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - debates on faith - personal belief systems - public discourse Key Concepts philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is morality possible without religion? - What alternatives exist for moral guidance? A Different Perspective May dismiss positive community aspects of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Let the public mind become corrupt, and all efforts to secure property, liberty, or life by the force of laws written on paper will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/let-the-public-mind-become-corrupt-and-all-efforts-to-secure-property/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Anger is poison. You must purge it from your mind or else it will corrupt your better nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/anger-is-poison-you-must-purge-it-from-your-mind-or-else-it-will/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“The limited mind owned by human.. requires billions of brains of many generations, before capable enough to understand the truth, the kind of truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/the-limited-mind-owned-by-human-requires-billions-of-brains-of-many/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Unless you realize that there is a sun beyond comprehension of this limited mind... the life shall remain confined within a Box...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-kumar/unless-you-realize-that-there-is-a-sun-beyond-comprehension-of-this/) [Dinesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-kumar/) > [If the Absolute becomes limited by the mind, It is no more Absolute; It has become finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-the-absolute-becomes-limited-by-the-mind-it-is-no-more-absolute-it/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Our limited mind is our enemy and our unlimited mind is our best friend. When you become a slave of the mind, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/our-limited-mind-is-our-enemy-and-our-unlimited-mind-is-our-best/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [The chances of a person breaking through their own habits and sloth and limited mind to actually write something that gets out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-chances-of-a-person-breaking-through-their-own-habits-and-sloth/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [But in the end one also has to understand that the needs that religion has satisfied and philosophy is now supposed to satisfy are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/but-in-the-end-one-also-has-to-understand-that-the-needs-that/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/i-have-no-religion-and-at-times-i-wish-all-religions-at-the-bottom-of-2/) [Mustafa Kemal Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/) > [He who possesses art and science has religion; he who does not possess them, needs religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-who-possesses-art-and-science-has-religion-he-who-does-not-possess/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/he-is-a-weak-ruler-who-needs-religion-to-uphold-his-government-it-is/) [Mustafa Kemal Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/) > [“An ugly face needs make-up; that's why Man needs religion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabah-carrim/an-ugly-face-needs-make-up-that-s-why-man-needs-religion/) [Sabah Carrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabah-carrim/) > [So many religions are there because so many people are unhappy. A happy person needs no religion; a happy person needs no temple, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-many-religions-are-there-because-so-many-people-are-unhappy-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/i-have-no-religion-and-at-times-i-wish-all-religions-at-the-bottom-of/) [Mustafa Kemal Ataturk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-kemal-ataturk/) > [The artist needs no religion beyond his work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-artist-needs-no-religion-beyond-his-work/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More by Ninon de L'Enclos > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The resistance of a woman is not always a proof of her virtue, but more frequently of her experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-resistance-of-a-woman-is-not-always-a-proof-of-her-virtue-but/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [One must choose between loving women and knowing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/one-must-choose-between-loving-women-and-knowing-them/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Equality is the share of every one at their advent upon earth, and equality is also theirs when placed beneath it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/equality-is-the-share-of-every-one-at-their-advent-upon-earth-and/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Novelty is the storehouse of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/novelty-is-the-storehouse-of-pleasure/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Hatred is nearly always honest--rarely, if ever, assumed. So much cannot be said for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/hatred-is-nearly-always-honest-rarely-if-ever-assumed-so-much-cannot/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A woman should not take a lover without the consent of her heart, nor a husband without the consent of her reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-should-not-take-a-lover-without-the-consent-of-her-heart-nor/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Wit is a dangerous talent in friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/wit-is-a-dangerous-talent-in-friendship/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [When our desires are fulfilled, we never fail to realize the wealth of imagination and the paucity of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/when-our-desires-are-fulfilled-we-never-fail-to-realize-the-wealth-of/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A cunning woman is her own mistress because she confides in no one. She who deceives others anticipates deceit, and guards herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-cunning-woman-is-her-own-mistress-because-she-confides-in-no-one/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The joy of the mind is the measure of its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-joy-of-the-mind-is-the-measure-of-its-strength/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Gossip, like ennui, is born of idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/gossip-like-ennui-is-born-of-idleness/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [There is a certain time of life, when we value a good stomach more than the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/there-is-a-certain-time-of-life-when-we-value-a-good-stomach-more/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/today-a-new-sun-rises-for-me-everything-lives-everything-is-animated/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Actors ought to be larger than life. You come across quite enough ordinary, nondescript people in daily life and I don't see why you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/actors-ought-to-be-larger-than-life-you-come-across-quite-enough/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Explore all 61 Ninon de L'Enclos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## More Heart quotes > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/) [Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/) [Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) Rena Kornreich Gelissen > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) [Browse all 45,172 Heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind or a corrupt heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ninon de L'Enclos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Heart" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/667/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_heart_if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-him_447891.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a…” — Ninon de L'Enclos", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ninon de L'Enclos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a man needs a religion...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```