--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd…" description: "\"“We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd: we drew power from the hearts and minds and beliefs of a people. But that which you draw power from, you are..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_beliefs_we-are-or-were-divinities-shara-komayd-w_451415.jpg" --- # We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd: we drew power… ![“We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd: we drew power from the hearts and minds and beliefs of a people. But that which you draw power from, you are also powerless before... A people believe in a god... and the god tells them what to believe.” quote by Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_beliefs_we-are-or-were-divinities-shara-komayd-w_451415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_beliefs_we-are-or-were-divinities-shara-komayd-w_451415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d41/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_beliefs_we-are-or-were-divinities-shara-komayd-w_451415.jpg) > ““We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd: we drew power from the hearts and minds and beliefs of a people. But that which you draw power from, you are also powerless before... A people believe in a god... and the god tells them what to believe.”” [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power derives from collective belief; when people worship a deity, they grant it strength, yet also become vulnerable to its dictates. **In simple terms:** Belief gives power and makes one dependent. Key Takeaway Recognize how shared beliefs shape authority. Themes belief power dependency faith Mood reflective critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political leadership - religious movements - community building - media influence Key Concepts social contract theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do your beliefs empower or limit you? - What happens when a belief system is challenged? A Different Perspective Power can be abused when unexamined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [We can't assign beliefs to people who don't have a voice to express them. And we can't assume what someone thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/we-can-t-assign-beliefs-to-people-who-don-t-have-a-voice-to-express/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) > [There certainly are those who worship the state much as divinities are worshipped. Not just the state but even leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-certainly-are-those-who-worship-the-state-much-as-divinities/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“God was the ultimate source of all that was divine. But there were lower divinities as well. Even within monotheistic Judaism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/god-was-the-ultimate-source-of-all-that-was-divine-but-there-were/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [“Where women are honored, the divinities are pleased. Where they are despised, it is useless to pray to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/where-women-are-honored-the-divinities-are-pleased-where-they-are/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [There is room in the human heart for all the divinities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/there-is-room-in-the-human-heart-for-all-the-divinities/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“We must not be too prodigal with our angels; they are the last divinities we harbor, and they might fly away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/we-must-not-be-too-prodigal-with-our-angels-they-are-the-last/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I am not sure but I should betake myself in extremities to the liberal divinities of Greece, rather than to my country's God. Jehovah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-sure-but-i-should-betake-myself-in-extremities-to-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“My old black cat, he passed away this morning. He never knew what a heartache was. Woke up late and he danced till noon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson-old-black-cat/my-old-black-cat-he-passed-away-this-morning-he-never-knew-what-a/) Ian Anderson Old Black Cat > [“Jews also believed that divinities could become human and humans could become divine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/jews-also-believed-that-divinities-could-become-human-and-humans/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [Democracy not only requires equality but also an unshakable conviction in the value of each person, who is then equal. Cross cultural experience teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/democracy-not-only-requires-equality-but-also-an-unshakable/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [The basic fault lines today are not between people with different beliefs but between people who hold these beliefs with an element of uncertainty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/the-basic-fault-lines-today-are-not-between-people-with-different/) [Peter L. Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-berger/) > [“We are terrible at seeking evidence that challenges our own beliefs, but other people do us this favor, just as we are good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-konnikova/we-are-terrible-at-seeking-evidence-that-challenges-our-own-beliefs/) [Maria Konnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-konnikova/) > [I believe in the separation of church and state. We all have our own religious beliefs. There are people out there who are atheists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-church-and-state-we-all-have-our-own/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [In documentary, mostly, people are going to say untoward things; people are going to have gnarly beliefs. People aren't perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-granik/in-documentary-mostly-people-are-going-to-say-untoward-things-people/) [Debra Granik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-granik/) > [Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you truly value, and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/happiness-does-not-come-from-a-job-it-comes-from-knowing-what-you/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) ## More by Robert Jackson Bennett > [“After all, deep in every Texan’s heart, there remains the steadfast belief that any problem can be solved with a big enough gun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/after-all-deep-in-every-texan-s-heart-there-remains-the-steadfast/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [Voters might have short memories. Politicians do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/voters-might-have-short-memories-politicians-do-not/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“My definition of an adult is someone who lives their life aware they are sharing the world with others. My definition of an adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/my-definition-of-an-adult-is-someone-who-lives-their-life-aware-they/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“I am lost among the seas of fate and time But at least I have love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/i-am-lost-among-the-seas-of-fate-and-time-but-at-least-i-have-love/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“But freedom and human happiness has a direct relationship to the number of people who have power over their own world, their own lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/but-freedom-and-human-happiness-has-a-direct-relationship-to-the/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“One should not seek ugliness in this world. There is no lack of it. You will find it soon enough, or it will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/one-should-not-seek-ugliness-in-this-world-there-is-no-lack-of-it-you/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [Oh, propriety," says Mrs Benjamin. "We're always so concerned with propriety. Even in total madness, we still stick to our hierarchies and chains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/oh-propriety-says-mrs-benjamin-we-re-always-so-concerned-with/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [I learned very early on not to speak to my folk from on high, but to get down with them, beside them, showing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/i-learned-very-early-on-not-to-speak-to-my-folk-from-on-high-but-to/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [ “I put my office right in the middle of the death they threaten us with. \[...\] here I sit, every day, hanging over all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/i-put-my-office-right-in-the-middle-of-the-death-they-threaten-us/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“The city knows. It remembers. Its past is written in its bones, though the past now speaks in silences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/the-city-knows-it-remembers-its-past-is-written-in-its-bones-though/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“My first question is- do you have a name ? "A name? Yes." "Ah!" said the wolf. It wrote several extensive notes. "And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/my-first-question-is-do-you-have-a-name-a-name-yes-ah-said-the-wolf/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“It is a fool who lives his life believing the waves upon which he sails shall remember him. The seas know nothing. This makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/it-is-a-fool-who-lives-his-life-believing-the-waves-upon-which-he/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must forget it was ever a caterpillar at all. Then it will be as if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/for-a-caterpillar-to-become-a-butterfly-it-must-forget-it-was-ever-a/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“To see her smile in such a manner makes my heart glad - Sigrud Well, goody for your fucking heart! -Mulaghesh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/to-see-her-smile-in-such-a-manner-makes-my-heart-glad-sigrud-well/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“Wishing is bad,” he said again. “It makes you hurt. Makes all the missing parts hurt, makes them open up new and makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/wishing-is-bad-he-said-again-it-makes-you-hurt-makes-all-the-missing/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) [Explore all 59 Robert Jackson Bennett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) ## More Beliefs quotes > [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/) [Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/) > [“Your life is your statement to the world representing your values, your beliefs, your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arenson/your-life-is-your-statement-to-the-world-representing-your-values/) David Arenson > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“My belief is the belief of no beliefs. That's my belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-scott-mcleod/my-belief-is-the-belief-of-no-beliefs-that-s-my-belief/) [T. Scott McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-scott-mcleod/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [There is no power shortage in heaven, and God is never in a recession. But His grace is sufficient to meet every need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-power-shortage-in-heaven-and-god-is-never-in-a-recession/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) [Browse all 1,331 Beliefs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd: we drew power from the hearts and minds and beliefs of a people. But that which you draw power from, you are also powerless before... 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