--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if…" description: "\"Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.\" — Pope Innocent III" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg" --- # Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what… ![“Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.” quote by Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg) > “Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.” [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obedience to authority is demanded even when directives conflict with moral good, and the authority is beyond critique. **In simple terms:** Follow authority even if immoral, no criticism allowed. Key Takeaway Question authority's morality. Themes authority obedience morality Mood conflicted critical Type ethical theological When to use this quote - religious obedience - ethical dilemmas - church governance Key Concepts theology political power Questions to Reflect On - Is it right to obey immoral orders? - How to balance faith and conscience? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can enable abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cleric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleric/) [Cleric Obey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleric-obey-2906773/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judge Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-pope-2271641/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Obey Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obey-pope-984494/) [Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope/) [Pope Commands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope-commands-2906774/) ## Related quotes > [It is necessary to obey a Pope in all things as long as he does not go against the universal customs of the Church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/it-is-necessary-to-obey-a-pope-in-all-things-as-long-as-he-does-not/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [Well, you could become a Southern Baptist. I mean, instead of having to obey the Pope, you could just obey your husband.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/well-you-could-become-a-southern-baptist-i-mean-instead-of-having-to/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [ Thus it is that Pope Innocent III states \[De Consuetudine\] that, it is necessary to obey the Pope in all things as long as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-i/thus-it-is-that-pope-innocent-iii-states-de-consuetudine-that-it-is/) [Pope Innocent I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-i/) > [I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favorable presumption that they do no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/i-cannot-accept-your-canon-that-we-are-to-judge-pope-and-king-unlike/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [“if ever a pope should command me to play on the flute, build towers, to mend or weave garments, and to stuff sausages, ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hus/if-ever-a-pope-should-command-me-to-play-on-the-flute-build-towers-to/) [Jan Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hus/) > [The Jesuits have a vow to obey the pope, but if the pope is a Jesuit, maybe he should have a vow to obey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-jesuits-have-a-vow-to-obey-the-pope-but-if-the-pope-is-a-jesuit/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“...new prejudices will serve as well as old ones to harness the great unthinking masses. For this enlightenment, however, nothing is required but freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/new-prejudices-will-serve-as-well-as-old-ones-to-harness-the-great/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [It's hard to say who's a greater threat to the world, an ambitious CEO with a big ad budget or a crafty cleric with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/it-s-hard-to-say-who-s-a-greater-threat-to-the-world-an-ambitious-ceo/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Most priests wish they were as righteous as they seem to most members of their congregations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-priests-wish-they-were-as-righteous-as-they-seem-to-most-members/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Ever since he repented of religion and shaved off his clerical beard and mustache, he has had the constant feeling that he has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/ever-since-he-repented-of-religion-and-shaved-off-his-clerical-beard/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [Shun, as you would the plague, a cleric who from being poor has become wealthy, or who, from being nobody has become a celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/shun-as-you-would-the-plague-a-cleric-who-from-being-poor-has-become/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Some cleric putting a match to her. /Neither of them looks happy about it. /Once lit, she'll burn like a book, /like a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/some-cleric-putting-a-match-to-her-neither-of-them-looks-happy-about/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“I can taste fear, and lies, on a man's skin, Cavrax." The Master Priest whispered, watching the large pulse on the cleric's neck beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-n-faust/i-can-taste-fear-and-lies-on-a-man-s-skin-cavrax-the-master-priest/) [C.N. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-n-faust/) > [“This particular May morning begins with the appearance of a procession on the corner of Pancake and Rosa Luxemburg Streets. The procession is evidently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/this-particular-may-morning-begins-with-the-appearance-of-a/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [“We look wishfully to emergencies, to eventful, revolutionary times...and think how easy to have taken our part when the drum was rolling and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/we-look-wishfully-to-emergencies-to-eventful-revolutionary-times-and/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) ## More by Pope Innocent III > [It is necessary to obey a Pope in all things as long as he does not go against the universal customs of the Church,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/it-is-necessary-to-obey-a-pope-in-all-things-as-long-as-he-does-not/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [So much must I live for others, that almost I am a stranger to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/so-much-must-i-live-for-others-that-almost-i-am-a-stranger-to-myself/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [God forbid that all children, of whom daily so great a multitude die, would perish, but that also for these, the merciful God, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/god-forbid-that-all-children-of-whom-daily-so-great-a-multitude-die/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [ This \[Magna Carta\] has been forced from the King. It constitutes an insult to the Holy See, a serious weakening of the royal power,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/this-magna-carta-has-been-forced-from-the-king-it-constitutes-an/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [Not to oppose erroneous doctrine is to approve of it, and not to defend at all true doctrine is to suppress it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/not-to-oppose-erroneous-doctrine-is-to-approve-of-it-and-not-to/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [The Pope should not flatter himself about his power nor should he rashly glory in his honor and high estate, because the less he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/the-pope-should-not-flatter-himself-about-his-power-nor-should-he/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [The universal Church of the faithful is one outside of which none is saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/the-universal-church-of-the-faithful-is-one-outside-of-which-none-is/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [If it shall be necessary, through sentences of excommunication against their persons and of interdict against their lands, all backsliding being put an end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/if-it-shall-be-necessary-through-sentences-of-excommunication-against/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [ The mysteries of the faith are not to \[be\] explained rashly to anyone. Usually in fact, they cannot be understood by everyone but only… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/the-mysteries-of-the-faith-are-not-to-be-explained-rashly-to-anyone/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [By heart we believe and by mouth confess the one Church, not of heretics but the Holy Roman, Catholic, and Apostolic Church outside which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/by-heart-we-believe-and-by-mouth-confess-the-one-church-not-of/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [ We believe that the Greeks have been punished through \[the Crusades\] by the just judgement of God: these Greeks who have striven to rend… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/we-believe-that-the-greeks-have-been-punished-through-the-crusades-by/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [Anyone who attempts to construe a personal view of God which conflicts with church dogma must be burned without pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/anyone-who-attempts-to-construe-a-personal-view-of-god-which/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [Crucifiers of Christ ought to be held in continual subjection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/crucifiers-of-christ-ought-to-be-held-in-continual-subjection/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [The Jews' guilt of the crucifixion of Jesus consigned them to perpetual servitude, and, like Cain, they are to be wanderers and fugitives. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/the-jews-guilt-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-consigned-them-to/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) > [Kill them all, for God knows His own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/kill-them-all-for-god-knows-his-own/) [Pope Innocent III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) [Explore all 16 Pope Innocent III quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/) ## More Cleric quotes > [“...new prejudices will serve as well as old ones to harness the great unthinking masses. For this enlightenment, however, nothing is required but freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/new-prejudices-will-serve-as-well-as-old-ones-to-harness-the-great/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“I can taste fear, and lies, on a man's skin, Cavrax." The Master Priest whispered, watching the large pulse on the cleric's neck beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-n-faust/i-can-taste-fear-and-lies-on-a-man-s-skin-cavrax-the-master-priest/) [C.N. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-n-faust/) > [“This particular May morning begins with the appearance of a procession on the corner of Pancake and Rosa Luxemburg Streets. The procession is evidently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/this-particular-may-morning-begins-with-the-appearance-of-a/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [“We look wishfully to emergencies, to eventful, revolutionary times...and think how easy to have taken our part when the drum was rolling and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/we-look-wishfully-to-emergencies-to-eventful-revolutionary-times-and/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [Some cleric putting a match to her. /Neither of them looks happy about it. /Once lit, she'll burn like a book, /like a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/some-cleric-putting-a-match-to-her-neither-of-them-looks-happy-about/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Shun, as you would the plague, a cleric who from being poor has become wealthy, or who, from being nobody has become a celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/shun-as-you-would-the-plague-a-cleric-who-from-being-poor-has-become/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [“Ever since he repented of religion and shaved off his clerical beard and mustache, he has had the constant feeling that he has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/ever-since-he-repented-of-religion-and-shaved-off-his-clerical-beard/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [“Most priests wish they were as righteous as they seem to most members of their congregations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-priests-wish-they-were-as-righteous-as-they-seem-to-most-members/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It's hard to say who's a greater threat to the world, an ambitious CEO with a big ad budget or a crafty cleric with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/it-s-hard-to-say-who-s-a-greater-threat-to-the-world-an-ambitious-ceo/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Although I admired scholarship so much in Cleric, I was not deceived about myself; I knew that I should never be a scholar. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/although-i-admired-scholarship-so-much-in-cleric-i-was-not-deceived/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [A physician's physiology has much the same relation to his power of healing as a cleric's divinity has to his power of influencing conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/a-physician-s-physiology-has-much-the-same-relation-to-his-power-of/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [A cleric who loses his faith abandons his calling; a philosopher who loses his redefines his subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gellner/a-cleric-who-loses-his-faith-abandons-his-calling-a-philosopher-who/) [Ernest Gellner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gellner/) [Browse all 13 Cleric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleric/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Innocent III" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if-he-commands-what-is-evil-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleric" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if-he-commands-what-is-evil-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/pope-innocent-iii-32111_command_every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if_1103948.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.” — Pope Innocent III", "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": "Pope Innocent III", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-innocent-iii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every cleric must obey the Pope,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if-he-commands-what-is-evil-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-innocent-iii/every-cleric-must-obey-the-pope-even-if-he-commands-what-is-evil-for/#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 } } ] } ```