--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We read the Golden Rule and judge it to…" description: "\"We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant distillation of many of our ethical impulses. And then we come across another of God’s teachings..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/sam-harris-457_brides_we-read-the-golden-rule-and-judge-it-to_948510.jpg" --- # We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant… ![“We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant distillation of many of our ethical impulses. And then we come across another of God’s teachings on morality: if a man discovers on his wedding night that his bride is not a virgin, he must stone her to death on her father’s doorstep…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/sam-harris-457_brides_we-read-the-golden-rule-and-judge-it-to_948510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/sam-harris-457_brides_we-read-the-golden-rule-and-judge-it-to_948510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/sam-harris-457_brides_we-read-the-golden-rule-and-judge-it-to_948510.jpg) > “We read the Golden Rule and judge it to be a brilliant distillation of many of our ethical impulses. And then we come across another of God’s teachings on morality: if a man discovers on his wedding night that his bride is not a virgin, he must stone her to death on her father’s doorstep (Deuteronomy 22:13-21).” [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 highlights a moral inconsistency: a revered ethical principle clashes with a harsh ancient law. **In simple terms:** Moral teachings can contradict each other. Key Takeaway Question and reconcile conflicting moral teachings. Themes ethics religion inconsistency Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - legal systems - interfaith dialogue - personal belief - education Key Concepts moral philosophy scriptural interpretation Questions to Reflect On - How do you resolve conflicting moral directives? - Can ancient laws be reinterpreted for modern ethics? A Different Perspective Historical context may explain but not excuse the contradiction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brides/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Ethical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical/) [Ethical Impulses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical-impulses-1673747/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [God Teachings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-teachings-1673746/) [Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden/) [Golden rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden-rule/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-man-1469492/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teachings Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachings-morality-1673745/) [Virgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgins/) [Wedding night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedding-night/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody can tell what is right and what is wrong; what is righteous and what is evil. 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Strength is the morality of the man who stands out from the rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/i-don-t-want-to-know-anything-about-your-system-of-ethics-strength-is/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [“Just as religion has preempted the field of ethics, turning morality against man, so it has usurped the highest moral concepts of our language,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/just-as-religion-has-preempted-the-field-of-ethics-turning-morality/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“What kind of married couple uses a pole on their wedding night?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/what-kind-of-married-couple-uses-a-pole-on-their-wedding-night/) [H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/) > [“It was the most beautiful night of their lives – their wedding night. 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The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“But the reality of consciousness appears irreducible. 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