Art Quote by Robert Green Ingersoll
“All of the Ten Commandments that are good were old; all that were new art foolish. If Jehovah had been civilized he would have left out the commandment about keeping the Sabbath, and in its place would have said: "Thou shalt not enslave thy fellow-men." He would have omitted the one about swearing, and said: "The man shall have but one wife, and the woman but one husband." He would have left out the one about graven images, and in its stead would have said: "Thou shalt not wage wars of extermination, and thou shalt not unsheathe the sword except in self-defence.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Gods of the Ancient World,” 1885
He critiques traditional commandments, suggesting more humane alternatives focused on equality and non‑violence.
In simple terms: He proposes more humane moral rules.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethics based on compassion and equality.
Themes
ethics
religion
humanism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Legal reform
- education curricula
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
social justice
historical critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Which commandments would you revise today?
- How can societies adopt more compassionate laws?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted traditions meets resistance.
