--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The second commandment is \"Thou shall not…" description: "\"The second commandment is \"Thou shall not construct any graven images.\" Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second most imp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg" --- # The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any… ![“The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second most important moral principle for all the generations of humanity?” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg) > “The second commandment is "Thou shall not construct any graven images." Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second most important moral principle for all the generations of humanity?” [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions whether prohibiting religious images is the highest moral achievement, suggesting deeper ethical standards exist beyond ritual prohibitions. **In simple terms:** Challenges superficial moral rules. Key Takeaway Seek deeper moral foundations. Themes ethics religion philosophy human progress moral hierarchy Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type philosophical provocative When to use this quote - theological debate - ethical education - interfaith dialogue - policy making Key Concepts moral relativism symbolic representation cultural norms Practical Applications - philosophical analysis - curriculum design Questions to Reflect On - What moral principles should guide humanity beyond religious edicts? - How do symbolic prohibitions shape ethical development? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Commandment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment/) [Commandment Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandment-thou-309179/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Constructs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constructs/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-principle-244067/) [Moral principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-principles/) [Morally Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morally-second-659202/) [Pinnacle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pinnacle/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Second Commandment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-commandment-659201/) ## Related quotes > [Sound moral principle is the only sure evidence of strength, the only firm foundation of greatness and perpetuity. Where this is lacking, no man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/sound-moral-principle-is-the-only-sure-evidence-of-strength-the-only/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [It is never to be expected in a revolution that every man is to change his opinion at the same moment. There never yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-never-to-be-expected-in-a-revolution-that-every-man-is-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Moral principle is the foundation of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/moral-principle-is-the-foundation-of-law/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A moral principle is not a command to act or to forbear acting in a given way: it is a tool for analyzing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-moral-principle-is-not-a-command-to-act-or-to-forbear-acting-in-a/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [To risk reputation and affection for the truth's sake is so demanding that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/to-risk-reputation-and-affection-for-the-truth-s-sake-is-so-demanding/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [In some cases, lack of full knowledge or holistic view, that is also part of the problem. But mainly lack of moral principle. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-some-cases-lack-of-full-knowledge-or-holistic-view-that-is-also/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [As the light of morning strikes now one peak and then another, some being illuminated while others are in the shadow, so the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/as-the-light-of-morning-strikes-now-one-peak-and-then-another-some/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [We may make mistakes-but they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-may-make-mistakes-but-they-must-never-be-mistakes-which-result/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Non-cooperation in military matters should be an essential moral principle for all true scientists ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/non-cooperation-in-military-matters-should-be-an-essential-moral/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“What subjectivism is in the realm of ethics, collectivism is in the realm of politics. Just as the notion that "anything I do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/what-subjectivism-is-in-the-realm-of-ethics-collectivism-is-in-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [There are no "standards of Right". Ethics is balderdash. Each Star must go on its own orbit. To hell with "moral principle"; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/there-are-no-standards-of-right-ethics-is-balderdash-each-star-must/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [No great, inspiring culture of the future can be built upon the moral principle of relativism. For at its bottom such a culture holds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-novak/no-great-inspiring-culture-of-the-future-can-be-built-upon-the-moral/) [Michael Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-novak/) > [What passes in the world for talent or dexterity or enterprise is often only a want of moral principle. We may succeed where others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/what-passes-in-the-world-for-talent-or-dexterity-or-enterprise-is/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [When we assume God to be a guiding principle well, sure enough, a god is usually characteristic of a certain system of thought or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/when-we-assume-god-to-be-a-guiding-principle-well-sure-enough-a-god/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The Church's basic moral principle regarding reproductive technologies is this: if a given technology assists the marital embrace in achieving its natural end, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-west/the-church-s-basic-moral-principle-regarding-reproductive/) [Christopher West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-west/) ## More by Sam Harris > [“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to-loosely-interpret-or-simply/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [We have Christians against Muslims against Jews, and no matter how liberal your theology, merely identifying yourself as a Christian or a Jew lends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-have-christians-against-muslims-against-jews-and-no-matter-how/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Your principal concern appears to be that the Creator of the universe will take offense at something people do while naked. This prudery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/your-principal-concern-appears-to-be-that-the-creator-of-the-universe/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“As manuals for contemplative understanding, the Bible and the Koran are worse than useless. Whatever wisdom can be found in their pages is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/as-manuals-for-contemplative-understanding-the-bible-and-the-koran/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [About 120 million of us place the big bang 2,500 years after the Babylonians and Sumerians learned to brew beer. If our polls are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/about-120-million-of-us-place-the-big-bang-2-500-years-after-the/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“If your golf instructor were to insist that you shave your head, sleep no more than four hours each night, renounce sex, and subsist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/if-your-golf-instructor-were-to-insist-that-you-shave-your-head-sleep/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The fact that one can lose one's sense of self in an ocean of tranquility does not mean that one's consciousness is immaterial or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-fact-that-one-can-lose-one-s-sense-of-self-in-an-ocean-of/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“But the reality of consciousness appears irreducible. Only consciousness can know itself—and directly, through first-person experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/but-the-reality-of-consciousness-appears-irreducible-only/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Whether or not one likes Huntington's formulation, one thing is clear: the evil that has finally reached our shores is not merely the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/whether-or-not-one-likes-huntington-s-formulation-one-thing-is-clear/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The problem is that religion tends to give people bad reasons to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-problem-is-that-religion-tends-to-give-people-bad-reasons-to-be/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Muslim moderates, wherever they are, must be given every tool necessary to win a war of ideas with their co-religionists. Otherwise, we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/muslim-moderates-wherever-they-are-must-be-given-every-tool-necessary/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [The idea that any one of our religions represents the infallible word of the One True God requires an encyclopedic ignorance of history, mythology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-idea-that-any-one-of-our-religions-represents-the-infallible-word/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“What could possibly cause billions of human beings to reconsider their religious beliefs? And yet, it is obvious that an utter revolution in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/what-could-possibly-cause-billions-of-human-beings-to-reconsider/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Take a moment to think about the context in which your next decision will occur: You did not pick your parents or the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/take-a-moment-to-think-about-the-context-in-which-your-next-decision/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Explore all 543 Sam Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) [Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The second commandment is \"Thou shall not construct any graven images.\" Is this really the pinnacle of what we can achieve morally? The second most important moral principle for all the generations of humanity?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achieve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/sam-harris-457_achieve_the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not_44696.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The second commandment is \"Thou shall not construct any graven images.\" Is this really the pinnacle of what…” — Sam Harris", "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": "Sam Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The second commandment is \"Thou shall...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/#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 } } ] } ```