--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Have been reading \"Genesis\" several…" description: "\"Have been reading \"Genesis\" several Sundays, not as a Christian reads for \"spiritual consolation,\" \"instruction,\" etc., not as aninfidel reads to carp ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_bible_have-been-reading-genesis-several-sunday_1178113.jpg" --- # Have been reading "Genesis" several Sundays, not as a… ![“Have been reading "Genesis" several Sundays, not as a Christian reads for "spiritual consolation," "instruction," etc., not as aninfidel reads to carp and quarrel and criticize, but as one who wishes to be informed and furnished in the earliest and most wonderful of all literary productions. The…” quote by Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_bible_have-been-reading-genesis-several-sunday_1178113.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_bible_have-been-reading-genesis-several-sunday_1178113.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_bible_have-been-reading-genesis-several-sunday_1178113.jpg) > “Have been reading "Genesis" several Sundays, not as a Christian reads for "spiritual consolation," "instruction," etc., not as aninfidel reads to carp and quarrel and criticize, but as one who wishes to be informed and furnished in the earliest and most wonderful of all literary productions. The literature of the Bible should be studied as one studies Shakespeare, for illustration and language, for its true pictures of man and woman nature, for its early historical record.” [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading Genesis as a literary work offers insight into early storytelling, human nature, and historical context beyond religious doctrine. **In simple terms:** Study Genesis for its language and cultural value. Key Takeaway Approach sacred texts with literary curiosity. Themes literature history human nature language culture Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical educational When to use this quote - academic courses - book clubs - personal study - comparative literature Key Concepts mythology ancient narrative cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How does literary analysis change your view of sacred texts? - What can ancient narratives teach modern societies? 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But once you start reading Genesis as scientifically valid, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/creation-stories-had-never-been-regarded-as-historically-accurate/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Yeah, we held a junior carp tournament on the St. Lawrence River in New York last August. I hosted that along with a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/yeah-we-held-a-junior-carp-tournament-on-the-st-lawrence-river-in-new/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [“It was eleven days before Christmas and an orange-tailed carp swam in the bathtub, opening and closing the slick tunnel of its mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-mcguire/it-was-eleven-days-before-christmas-and-an-orange-tailed-carp-swam-in/) Magdalena McGuire > [The religion that has transformed Western civilization for two millennia is a blank slate for liberals. Their closest reference point is conservative Christians, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-religion-that-has-transformed-western-civilization-for-two/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth, And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlasses and with assays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/your-bait-of-falsehood-takes-this-carp-of-truth-and-thus-do-we-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If a man holds a door open for me or pulls back a chair so that this old bag can sit down, I'm delighted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rigg/if-a-man-holds-a-door-open-for-me-or-pulls-back-a-chair-so-that-this/) [Diana Rigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rigg/) > [“What can you guarentee, O Nostradamus of Hayward?" I carp.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/what-can-you-guarentee-o-nostradamus-of-hayward-i-carp/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [“Technically speaking, the pond should be full of carp, but Hiro is American enough to think of carp as inedible dinosaurs that sit on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/technically-speaking-the-pond-should-be-full-of-carp-but-hiro-is/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I have known a very good, fisher angle diligently four or six hours for a river carp, and not have a bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/i-have-known-a-very-good-fisher-angle-diligently-four-or-six-hours/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Frying gives cooks numerous ways of concealing what appeared the day before and in a pinch facilitates sudden demands, for it takes little more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/frying-gives-cooks-numerous-ways-of-concealing-what-appeared-the-day/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) ## More by Rutherford B. Hayes > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [No person connected with me by blood or marriage will be appointed to office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/no-person-connected-with-me-by-blood-or-marriage-will-be-appointed-to/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The President of the United States should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-president-of-the-united-states-should-strive-to-be-always-mindful/) [Rutherford B. 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Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Strikes and boycotting are akin to war, and can be justified only on grounds analogous to those which justify war, viz., intolerable injustice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/strikes-and-boycotting-are-akin-to-war-and-can-be-justified-only-on/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-melancholy-thing-in-our-public-life-is-the-insane-desire-to-get/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [As friends go it is less important to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/as-friends-go-it-is-less-important-to-live/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [ My father and mother in 1817 were forty-nine days on the road with their emigrant wagons \[from Vermont\] to Ohio. More than two days… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/my-father-and-mother-in-1817-were-forty-nine-days-on-the-road-with/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Unjust attacks on public men do them more good than unmerited praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/unjust-attacks-on-public-men-do-them-more-good-than-unmerited-praise/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret, less disappointment, fewer heart burnings, or any general content with the result of his term (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nobody-ever-left-the-presidency-with-less-regret-less-disappointment/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [If a liberal policy towards the late Rebels is adopted, the ultra Republicans are opposed to it; if the colored people are honored, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/if-a-liberal-policy-towards-the-late-rebels-is-adopted-the-ultra/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Disunion and civil war are at hand; and yet I fear disunion and war less than compromise. We can recover from them. The free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/disunion-and-civil-war-are-at-hand-and-yet-i-fear-disunion-and-war/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The best religion the world has ever known is the religion of the Bible. It builds up all that is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-best-religion-the-world-has-ever-known-is-the-religion-of-the/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [There is a great deal of strength in Garfield's life and struggles as a self-made man… From poverty and obscurity, by labor at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/there-is-a-great-deal-of-strength-in-garfield-s-life-and-struggles-as/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) [Explore all 129 Rutherford B. Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [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/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. 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