---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would to God, brethren, I could tell you…"
description: "\"Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would call it blasphemy and want to take my life!..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg"
---

#  Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would…

![“Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would call it blasphemy and want to take my life!” quote by Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg)

> “Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would call it blasphemy and want to take my life!”

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He feels trapped by others' judgments and fears for his identity.

**In simple terms:** Fear of judgment threatens self‑expression.

Key Takeaway

Speak truth despite risk.

Themes

identity faith conflict expression

Mood

anxious defiant

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- public scrutiny
- spiritual doubt

Key Concepts

self‑discovery religious tension

Questions to Reflect On

- What truths are you afraid to share?
- How does faith shape self‑identity?

A Different Perspective

May be hyperbolic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/) [Blasphemy Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy-want-2234901/) [Brethren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brethren/) [God Brethren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-brethren-363808/) [Know Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-blasphemy-2234900/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Tell God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-god/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/)

## Related quotes

> [“That which they have need of . . . let it be given them day by day without fail. Ezra 6:9 If we really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/that-which-they-have-need-of-let-it-be-given-them-day-by-day-without/)

[Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/)

> [“It brings great shame to turn against those ideals. Our kinship. Our honor. It is almost unbearable to think that your god and brethren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/it-brings-great-shame-to-turn-against-those-ideals-our-kinship-our/)

[Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/)

> [In the name of Israel's God, if every man would do right, and when he has done what he knows is right, then stops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/in-the-name-of-israel-s-god-if-every-man-would-do-right-and-when-he/)

[Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/)

> [Don't tell GOD that u have a Big Problem,Tell your Problem that u have a Big GOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/don-t-tell-god-that-u-have-a-big-problem-tell-your-problem-that-u/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [Again and again I tell God I need help, and God says, 'Well, isn't that fabulous? Because I need help too. So you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/again-and-again-i-tell-god-i-need-help-and-god-says-well-isn-t-that/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [If I could give you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/if-i-could-give-you-information-of-my-life-it-would-be-to-show-how-a/)

[Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/)

> [I can tell you that God is alive because I talked to him this morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-can-tell-you-that-god-is-alive-because-i-talked-to-him-this-morning/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [I'm gonna be blunt and plain, if one ever looks at me like that I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-swaggart/i-m-gonna-be-blunt-and-plain-if-one-ever-looks-at-me-like-that-i-m/)

[Jimmy Swaggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-swaggart/)

> [Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/have-you-been-asking-god-what-he-is-going-to-do-he-will-never-tell/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [I was in seventh grade at St. Matthew's. The teachers would tell me, 'God loves you,' and then whack a ruler across my hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-prinze/i-was-in-seventh-grade-at-st-matthew-s-the-teachers-would-tell-me-god/)

[Freddie Prinze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-prinze/)

> [I grew up hearing everyone tell me 'God loves you'. I would say big deal, God loves everybody. That don't make me special! That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-grew-up-hearing-everyone-tell-me-god-loves-you-i-would-say-big-deal/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

> [“Everything on earth has a purpose to fulfill, though it may look worthless, but time will tell if god did a mistake in creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/everything-on-earth-has-a-purpose-to-fulfill-though-it-may-look/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [They tell me 'find God' like I don't know where He at. And if He lost, then why we followin' Him? Just acknowledge the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fashawn/they-tell-me-find-god-like-i-don-t-know-where-he-at-and-if-he-lost/)

[Fashawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fashawn/)

> [“When I face an obsticle that it seem I can't overcome I tell myself it's God's way of telling me to move on becase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiree-mccarver/when-i-face-an-obsticle-that-it-seem-i-can-t-overcome-i-tell-myself/)

[Shiree McCarver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiree-mccarver/)

> [If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-will-tell-me-when-god-permits-a-christian-to-lay-aside-his/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

## More by Sam Smith

> [I'm really scared of flying. Like, really, really, really scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-m-really-scared-of-flying-like-really-really-really-scared/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [I had a role in developing the doctrine From the Sea, which was later modified to Forward From the Sea. But the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-had-a-role-in-developing-the-doctrine-from-the-sea-which-was-later/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. So, thank you guys...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [My cross earrings are a mini statement; I wear them every day! My whole dream is to be iconic, and the way you dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/my-cross-earrings-are-a-mini-statement-i-wear-them-every-day-my-whole/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [I'll be excited when I get my heart broken properly for the first time. I'll be like, 'Thank God I've experienced something. Someone wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-ll-be-excited-when-i-get-my-heart-broken-properly-for-the-first/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [As a kid, I collected 'Vogue' every month for three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/as-a-kid-i-collected-vogue-every-month-for-three-years/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [Polls are the corporate media's standardized tests to determine how well we have learned what it has taught us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/polls-are-the-corporate-media-s-standardized-tests-to-determine-how/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [I hate it when guys wear really tight t-shirts. It's just so horrible, especially when you can see their bellies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-hate-it-when-guys-wear-really-tight-t-shirts-it-s-just-so-horrible/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [Kill me if you will, I am not afraid to die; and I have endured so much oppression that I am weary of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/kill-me-if-you-will-i-am-not-afraid-to-die-and-i-have-endured-so-much/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [I'm more comfortable performing in front of 50,000 people than five people - it's easier. When there's that many people, I feel like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-m-more-comfortable-performing-in-front-of-50-000-people-than-five/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow &amp; people started to listen so thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to-2/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [When I'm performing, I'm not even thinking about the song. I'm thinking about the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/when-i-m-performing-i-m-not-even-thinking-about-the-song-i-m-thinking/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [I used to get very angry as I was getting older, because my voice was breaking. So I've trained my voice so religiously through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-used-to-get-very-angry-as-i-was-getting-older-because-my-voice-was/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [It's my job to have ups and downs because it makes good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-s-my-job-to-have-ups-and-downs-because-it-makes-good-music/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

> [Music is to give, share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/music-is-to-give-share/)

[Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

[Explore all 145 Sam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/)

## More Blasphemy quotes

> [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [Blasphemy and sedition (meaning the truth about Church and State).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/blasphemy-and-sedition-meaning-the-truth-about-church-and-state/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [“They're power-hungry, the mundane said of the magical people. They're immoral, people said, and they're scary. Playing with the dark arts could plunge me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wicker/they-re-power-hungry-the-mundane-said-of-the-magical-people-they-re/)

[Christine Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-wicker/)

> [Political correctness is a major defect of the western ethos. Some Western countries have even passed blasphemy laws that would put you in legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/political-correctness-is-a-major-defect-of-the-western-ethos-some/)

[Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/)

> [As George Bernard Shaw observed: "All great truths begin as blasphemies." Yet I have to say, the idea that there is intelligent life elsewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/as-george-bernard-shaw-observed-all-great-truths-begin-as-blasphemies/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [Now a doll found naked in a ditch eyes rusted open, is blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-digges/now-a-doll-found-naked-in-a-ditch-eyes-rusted-open-is-blasphemy/)

[Deborah Digges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-digges/)

> [The most important truths always appear first as blasphemies or obscenities. That's why every great innovator is persecuted. And the sacraments look obscene, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/the-most-important-truths-always-appear-first-as-blasphemies-or/)

[Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/)

> [Now 'South Park' - they are interested in blasphemy. They're interested in creating offence for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baddiel/now-south-park-they-are-interested-in-blasphemy-they-re-interested-in/)

[David Baddiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baddiel/)

> [We cannot assume the injustice of any actions which only create offense, and especially as regards religion and morals. He who utters or does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/we-cannot-assume-the-injustice-of-any-actions-which-only-create/)

[Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/)

> [You keep accusing me of blasphemy all of the time, but I cannot be convicted of a victimless crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/you-keep-accusing-me-of-blasphemy-all-of-the-time-but-i-cannot-be/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [They say moses split the red sea, I split a blunt and roll a fat one when I'm deadly. blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2pac/they-say-moses-split-the-red-sea-i-split-a-blunt-and-roll-a-fat-one/)

[2pac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2pac/)

> [“...The Presidential election has given me less anxiety than I myself could have imagined. The next administration will be a troublesome one, to whomsoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-presidential-election-has-given-me-less-anxiety-than-i-myself/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [That in the captains but a choleric word Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-in-the-captains-but-a-choleric-word-which-in-the-soldier-is-flat/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-blasphemy-murder-rape-revolution-anything-bad-or-good-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 260 Blasphemy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would call it blasphemy and want to take my life!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sam Smith"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-who-i-am-would-to-god-i-could/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Blasphemy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-who-i-am-would-to-god-i-could/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/sam-smith-2934_blasphemy_would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-w_218124.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would…” — Sam Smith",
                "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 Smith",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Would to God, brethren, I could...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-who-i-am-would-to-god-i-could/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-who-i-am-would-to-god-i-could/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
