--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is error to believe that Every man is…" description: "\"It is error to believe that Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.\" — Pop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png" --- # It is error to believe that Every man is free to embrace… ![“It is error to believe that Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.” quote by Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png) > “It is error to believe that Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.” [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that true religious freedom is limited to beliefs aligned with reason, rejecting absolute freedom to choose any faith **In simple terms:** Religious freedom should be guided by reason, not unrestricted choice Key Takeaway Freedom of belief must be tempered by rational criteria Themes religion reason freedom dogma Mood serious reflective formal Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church teaching - public policy debate - educational curricula Key Concepts theology philosophy human rights Questions to Reflect On - Is reason a universal guide for faith? - How to balance religious liberty with rational standards? A Different Perspective Limits can suppress minority faiths and personal conscience ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“You must not suppose that I would like you to profess religion without possessing it. A hypocrite is in my opinion one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-i-robertson-jr/you-must-not-suppose-that-i-would-like-you-to-profess-religion/) James I. Robertson Jr > [In proportion as we endeavor to live according to the guidance of reason, shall we strive as much as possible to depend less on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-proportion-as-we-endeavor-to-live-according-to-the-guidance-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Though it is very important for man as an individual that his religion should be true, that is not the case for society. Society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/though-it-is-very-important-for-man-as-an-individual-that-his/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God… My books are about killing God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-don-t-profess-any-religion-i-don-t-think-it-s-possible-that-there-2/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [..and even though the seasons change the reason shall remain the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floime-conejos/and-even-though-the-seasons-change-the-reason-shall-remain-the-same/) [Floime Conejos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floime-conejos/) > [The principles of the good society call for a concern with an order of being - which cannot be proved existentially to the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-principles-of-the-good-society-call-for-a-concern-with-an-order/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“What we firmly believe, if it is true, is called knowledge, provided it is either intuitive or inferred (logically or psychologically) from intuitive knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/what-we-firmly-believe-if-it-is-true-is-called-knowledge-provided-it/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“And who talks of error now? I scarcely think the notion that flittered across my brain was an error. I believe it was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/and-who-talks-of-error-now-i-scarcely-think-the-notion-that-flittered/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [It is, I think, an error to believe that there is any need of religion to make life seem worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/it-is-i-think-an-error-to-believe-that-there-is-any-need-of-religion/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [It is, all in all, a historic error to believe that the master makes the school; the students make it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/it-is-all-in-all-a-historic-error-to-believe-that-the-master-makes/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [Observe that it is a great error to believe that all mediums of art are not closely tied to their time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-pissarro/observe-that-it-is-a-great-error-to-believe-that-all-mediums-of-art/) [Camille Pissarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-pissarro/) > [Tolerance does not...do anything, embrace anyone, champion any issue. It wipes the notes off the score of life and replaces them with one long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-farrell/tolerance-does-not-do-anything-embrace-anyone-champion-any-issue-it/) Walter Farrell > [We have reason to believe that man first walked upright to free his hands for masturbation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/we-have-reason-to-believe-that-man-first-walked-upright-to-free-his/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [“I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-believe-that-man-will-not-merely-endure-he-will-prevail/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“I watch him up on the screen as I hold his hand in the audience, and I think that everything in life is kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-charbonnet/i-watch-him-up-on-the-screen-as-i-hold-his-hand-in-the-audience-and-i/) Gabrielle Charbonnet ## More by Pope Pius IX > [Liberal Catholics are the worst enemies of the Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/liberal-catholics-are-the-worst-enemies-of-the-church/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [Atheism in legislation, indifference in matters of religion, and the pernicious maxims which go under the name of Liberal Catholicism are the true causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/atheism-in-legislation-indifference-in-matters-of-religion-and-the/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [ \[Dr. Constain James\] refuted so well the aberrations of Darwinism… \[A system\] which is repugnant at once to history, to the tradition of all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/dr-constain-james-refuted-so-well-the-aberrations-of-darwinism-a/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [Now you know well that the most deadly foes of the Catholic religion have always waged a fierce war, but without success, against this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/now-you-know-well-that-the-most-deadly-foes-of-the-catholic-religion/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [The chisel is the pen of the sculptor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/the-chisel-is-the-pen-of-the-sculptor/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [The state (the U.S. Constitution) has not the right to leave every man free to profess and embrace whatever religion he may desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/the-state-the-u-s-constitution-has-not-the-right-to-leave-every-man/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [Neither the true faith nor eternal salvation is to be found outside the Holy Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/neither-the-true-faith-nor-eternal-salvation-is-to-be-found-outside/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [The Roman Pontiff can, and ought to, reconcile himself, and come to terms with progress, liberalism and modern civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/the-roman-pontiff-can-and-ought-to-reconcile-himself-and-come-to/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [The foundation of all our confidence is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. God has committed to her the treasury of all good things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/the-foundation-of-all-our-confidence-is-found-in-the-blessed-virgin/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [Nothing can ever pass away from the words of Christ, nor can anything be changed in the doctrine which the Catholic Church received from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/nothing-can-ever-pass-away-from-the-words-of-christ-nor-can-anything/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/because-god-knows-searches-and-clearly-understands-the-minds-hearts/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [I have always condemned Liberal Catholicism and I will condemn it again forty times over if it be necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/i-have-always-condemned-liberal-catholicism-and-i-will-condemn-it/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [Socialism, Communism, clandestine societies, Bible societies... pests of this sort must be destroyed by all means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/socialism-communism-clandestine-societies-bible-societies-pests-of/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/if-anyone-says-that-it-is-possible-that-at-some-time-given-the/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) > [If a future Pope teaches anything contrary to the Catholic Faith, do not follow him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/if-a-future-pope-teaches-anything-contrary-to-the-catholic-faith-do/) [Pope Pius IX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) [Explore all 21 Pope Pius IX quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is error to believe that Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Pius IX" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is-free-to-embrace-and-profess/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is-free-to-embrace-and-profess/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01c/pope-pius-ix-26903_believe_it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is_1859096.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is error to believe that Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the…” — Pope Pius IX", "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 Pius IX", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-ix/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is error to believe that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is-free-to-embrace-and-profess/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-ix/it-is-error-to-believe-that-every-man-is-free-to-embrace-and-profess/#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 } } ] } ```