Commandment Quote by René Girard
““THE TENTH COMMANDMENT signals a revolution and prepares the way for it. This revolution comes to fruition in the New Testament. If Jesus never speaks in terms of prohibitions and always in terms of models and imitation, it is because he draws out the full consequences of the lesson offered by the tenth commandment. It is not due to inflated self-love that he asks us to imitate him; it is to turn us away from mimetic rivalries.””
About This Quote
Source Theological Essay: Violence and the Sacred, René Girard, 1972
Jesus reframes the tenth commandment from prohibition to imitation, urging followers to model behavior rather than compete, thereby transcending mimetic rivalry.
In simple terms: Follow example, not rules, to avoid rivalry.
Key Takeaway
Model others, not just obey.
Themes
religion
ethics
imitation
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- faith education
- conflict resolution
- community building
Key Concepts
theology
mimetic theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Can societies truly move beyond rivalry?
- What examples show imitation over competition?
A Different Perspective
Human nature may resist selfless imitation.
