--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Environment is a sculptor - a painter. If…" description: "\"Environment is a sculptor - a painter. If we had been born in Constantinople, then most of us would have said: 'There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_environment-is-a-sculptor-a-painter-if-w_391845.jpg" --- # Environment is a sculptor - a painter. If we had been born… ![“Environment is a sculptor - a painter. If we had been born in Constantinople, then most of us would have said: 'There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.' If our parents had lived on the banks of the Ganges, we would have been worshipers of Siva, longing for the heaven of Nirvana. As…” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_environment-is-a-sculptor-a-painter-if-w_391845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_environment-is-a-sculptor-a-painter-if-w_391845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2e/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_environment-is-a-sculptor-a-painter-if-w_391845.jpg) > “Environment is a sculptor - a painter. If we had been born in Constantinople, then most of us would have said: 'There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.' If our parents had lived on the banks of the Ganges, we would have been worshipers of Siva, longing for the heaven of Nirvana. As a rule, children love their parents, believe what they teach, and take great pride in saying that the religion of mother is good enough for them.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Culture shapes belief; religious identity often reflects geography and upbringing rather than universal truth. **In simple terms:** Where we grow up influences the religion we adopt. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about the origins of belief. Themes religion culture identity geography family influence Mood thoughtful inquisitive open-minded Type sociological reflective When to use this quote - family upbringing - immigration - interfaith dialogue - education Key Concepts sociology anthropology psychology pluralism Questions to Reflect On - What role does environment play in shaping personal faith? - How can we respect diverse religious backgrounds while seeking common ground? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizing can ignore individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-love/) [Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constantinople/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Ganges Worshipers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ganges-worshipers-3534178/) [God Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-allah-898450/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-believe-306552/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) [Prophet Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet-parents-3534177/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-mother-1822622/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sculptors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sculptors/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [There is no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-is-no-god/) ## Related quotes > [“Environment is a sculptor—a painter. If we had been born in Constantinople, the most of us would have said: "There is no God but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/environment-is-a-sculptor-a-painter-if-we-had-been-born-in-2/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [There have been systems of religion where the mother is the prime parent, the source, and she's really a more immediate parent than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/there-have-been-systems-of-religion-where-the-mother-is-the-prime/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I have been trolled for my name, my marriage, my religion, even for my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/i-have-been-trolled-for-my-name-my-marriage-my-religion-even-for-my/) [Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/) > [It is sometimes said that we drink our religion with our mother's milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/it-is-sometimes-said-that-we-drink-our-religion-with-our-mother-s-milk/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [Sacred religion! mother of form and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-daniel/sacred-religion-mother-of-form-and-fear/) [Samuel Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-daniel/) > [I was never pushed into the religion by my mother or anyone else. I made up my own mind when I was old enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-was-never-pushed-into-the-religion-by-my-mother-or-anyone-else-i/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The false religion of lust is baser than the false religion of mother-love or patriotism or art: but lust is less likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-false-religion-of-lust-is-baser-than-the-false-religion-of-mother/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose/la-ilaha-illa-allah-there-is-no-god-but-allah/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose/) > [“There is no God but Allah Muhammad (p.b.u.h) is the Messenger of Allah”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irfan/there-is-no-god-but-allah-muhammad-p-b-u-h-is-the-messenger-of-allah/) [Irfan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irfan/) > [There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-god-but-allah-and-muhammad-is-the-messenger-of-allah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,  All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds,  The Beneficent, the Merciful, …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/in-the-name-of-allah-the-beneficent-the-merciful-all-praise-is-due-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah. Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ^abduhu warasuluh. Allahumma j^alni minat-tawwabina waj^alni minal-mutatahhirin.(This means: I bear witness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/ash-hadu-alla-ilaha-illallahu-wahdahu-la-sharika-lah-wa-ash-hadu-anna/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is God's messenger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/there-is-no-god-but-allah-and-muhammad-is-god-s-messenger/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) > [“Gods do have their divisions thanks to man. Jesus Christ is the Christian God, Allah the Muslim and so on. As a convent student,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-paula/gods-do-have-their-divisions-thanks-to-man-jesus-christ-is-the/) [Andy Paula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-paula/) > [“Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul and deed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raad/islam-teaches-that-one-can-only-find-peace-in-one-s-life-by/) [Raad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raad/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“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/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [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/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Environment is a sculptor - a painter. If we had been born in Constantinople, then most of us would have said: 'There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.' If our parents had lived on the banks of the Ganges, we would have been worshipers of Siva, longing for the heaven of Nirvana. 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