--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more I study religions the more I am…" description: "\"“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.”\" — Richard Francis Burton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png" --- # The more I study religions the more I am convinced that… ![“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.” quote by Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png) > ““The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.”” [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes humans ultimately worship themselves rather than any external deity. **In simple terms:** People worship themselves more than any god. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑centered motives in belief. Themes religion human nature ego Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - cultural studies - personal reflection - ethical debates Key Concepts anthropology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What drives the need to worship oneself? - Can true humility exist without self‑worship? A Different Perspective Self‑worship can be rationalized as self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Organized religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burton/the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am-convinced-that-man-never-2/) [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) > [My respectful study of other religions has not abated my reverence for or my faith in the Hindu scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-respectful-study-of-other-religions-has-not-abated-my-reverence/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [A convinced man differs from a prejudiced man as an honest man from a liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/a-convinced-man-differs-from-a-prejudiced-man-as-an-honest-man-from-a/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [ I... \[am\] convinced \[man\] has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-convinced-man-has-no-natural-right-in-opposition-to-his-social/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [How convinced are you that man was created in the image of God when you can't see the image of God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-convinced-are-you-that-man-was-created-in-the-image-of-god-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If one listens one may be convinced; and a man who allows himself to be convinced by an argument is a thoroughly unreasonable person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-one-listens-one-may-be-convinced-and-a-man-who-allows-himself-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature and that power, whether vested in many or a few, is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/i-am-more-and-more-convinced-that-man-is-a-dangerous-creature-and/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [I am convinced that when a man sincerely searches for God with all his heart, God will reveal Himself in some way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-am-convinced-that-when-a-man-sincerely-searches-for-god-with-all/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The first thing we become convinced of is that man is organized so as to be far more sensible of pain than of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/the-first-thing-we-become-convinced-of-is-that-man-is-organized-so-as/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) > [I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/i-am-more-and-more-convinced-that-man-is-a-dangerous-creature/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [I'm convinced, more than ever, that man finds liberation only when he binds himself to God and commits himself to his fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-m-convinced-more-than-ever-that-man-finds-liberation-only-when-he/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I am convinced that only when a man is prepared to die is he also prepared to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-am-convinced-that-only-when-a-man-is-prepared-to-die-is-he-also/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [If there is a Creator-God, it has used methods of creation that are indistinguishable from nature, it has declined to make itself known for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/if-there-is-a-creator-god-it-has-used-methods-of-creation-that-are/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [“Aziraphale was an angel, but he also worshiped books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/aziraphale-was-an-angel-but-he-also-worshiped-books/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) ## More by Richard Francis Burton > [One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/one-death-to-a-man-is-a-serious-thing-a-dozen-neutralize-one-another/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [The Now, that indivisible point which studs the length of infinite line Whose ends are nowhere, is thine all , the puny all thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-now-that-indivisible-point-which-studs-the-length-of-infinite/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [The dearest ambition of a slave is not liberty, but to have a slave of his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-dearest-ambition-of-a-slave-is-not-liberty-but-to-have-a-slave-of/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [When doctors differ who decides amid the milliard-headed throng?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/when-doctors-differ-who-decides-amid-the-milliard-headed-throng/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Friends of my youth, a last adieu! Haply some day we meet again: Ye ne'er the self-same men shall meet; the years shall make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/friends-of-my-youth-a-last-adieu-haply-some-day-we-meet-again-ye-ne/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Do what thy manhood bids thee do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/do-what-thy-manhood-bids-thee-do/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [“O genius," I said, "you see that this Sultan was not content with merely forgiving the envious man for the attempt on his life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/o-genius-i-said-you-see-that-this-sultan-was-not-content-with-merely/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and the strokes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a-dozen-of-the-enemy-whose/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [For each believes his glimm'ering lamp to be the gorgeous light of day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/for-each-believes-his-glimm-ering-lamp-to-be-the-gorgeous-light-of-day/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [“Scheherazade had perused the books, annals and legends of preceding Kings, and the stories, examples and instances of bygone men and things; indeed it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/scheherazade-had-perused-the-books-annals-and-legends-of-preceding/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/of-the-gladdest-moments-in-human-life-methinks-is-the-departure-upon/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [ \[Shahrazad\] had perused the books, annals and legends of preceding Kings, and the stories, examples and instances of by gone men and things; indeed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/shahrazad-had-perused-the-books-annals-and-legends-of-preceding-kings/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Broke is a temporary condition, poor is a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/broke-is-a-temporary-condition-poor-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Reason is Life's sole arbiter, themagic Laby'rinth's single clue...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/reason-is-life-s-sole-arbiter-themagic-laby-rinth-s-single-clue/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [How melancholy a thing is success. Whilst failure inspirits a man, attainment reads the sad prosy lesson that all our glories "Are shadows, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/how-melancholy-a-thing-is-success-whilst-failure-inspirits-a-man/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) [Explore all 27 Richard Francis Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) ## More Organized religion quotes > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. ... These two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-m-completely-in-favor-of-the-separation-of-church-and-state-these/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Organized religion has a part in the evolution of personal religion. It is the material upon which personal religion is grafted, but the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-montagu/organized-religion-has-a-part-in-the-evolution-of-personal-religion/) Lily Montagu > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Humanity will never be religious unless all organized religions disappear and religion becomes an individual commitment towards existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/humanity-will-never-be-religious-unless-all-organized-religions/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“The main pillar of organized religion, with few exceptions, is the subjugation, repression, even the annulment of women in the group. Woman must accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-main-pillar-of-organized-religion-with-few-exceptions-is-the/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“I’m beginning to see how the secret ways and deepest mysteries of God and his kingdom are often revealed off the beaten path of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-palmer/i-m-beginning-to-see-how-the-secret-ways-and-deepest-mysteries-of-god/) [Jim Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-palmer/) > [I see the way I look upon organized religion, I was a victim of that of mythology, and of cruelty, and all the absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachy-mccourt/i-see-the-way-i-look-upon-organized-religion-i-was-a-victim-of-that/) [Malachy McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachy-mccourt/) > [The three religions because I wanted to discuss faith, not organized religion, so wanted to relativize organized religion by having Pi practice three. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/the-three-religions-because-i-wanted-to-discuss-faith-not-organized/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [My father hates organized religion, probably because he hates the God who killed his little girl back in 1968. I find religions variously bemusing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/my-father-hates-organized-religion-probably-because-he-hates-the-god/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [Among the sayings and discourses imputed to him (i.e. Jesus) by his biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/among-the-sayings-and-discourses-imputed-to-him-i-e-jesus-by-his/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Half the people in the world think that the metaphors of their religious traditions, for example, are facts. And the other half contends that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/half-the-people-in-the-world-think-that-the-metaphors-of-their/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“One of the greatest tragedies in mankind's entire history may be that morality was hijacked by religion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/one-of-the-greatest-tragedies-in-mankind-s-entire-history-may-be-that/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) [Browse all 261 Organized religion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Francis Burton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am-convinced-that-man-never/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Organized religion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am-convinced-that-man-never/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3de/richard-francis-burton-22705_organized-religion_the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am_1094092.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.” — Richard Francis Burton", "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": "Richard Francis Burton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The more I study religions the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am-convinced-that-man-never/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am-convinced-that-man-never/#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 } } ] } ```