--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The object of man's worship, whatever it…" description: "\"The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it with every attribute, belonging, in his view, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg" --- # The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will… ![“The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it with every attribute, belonging, in his view, to a perfect character; and this character he himself endeavors to attain.” quote by Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg) > “The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it with every attribute, belonging, in his view, to a perfect character; and this character he himself endeavors to attain.” [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Worship creates an idealized standard that people strive to emulate, projecting perfection onto the object of reverence. **In simple terms:** Worship sets a perfect standard to emulate. Key Takeaway Beware of unrealistic standards from worship. Themes religion idealism psychology Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - spiritual practice - personal development - leadership Key Concepts worship perfection Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate healthy admiration from unrealistic expectations? - Can worship be balanced with realism? A Different Perspective Idealization can cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [In short, if we adhere to the standard of perfection in all our endeavors, we are left with nothing but mathematics and the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/in-short-if-we-adhere-to-the-standard-of-perfection-in-all-our/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [Adopt the standard of perfection, because it is a perfect universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/adopt-the-standard-of-perfection-because-it-is-a-perfect-universe/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [I'm drawn to the not-so-perfect character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-diaz/i-m-drawn-to-the-not-so-perfect-character/) [Guillermo Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-diaz/) > [Create a really interesting, complex person that you want to know more about, and take her on a journey that is rich and fulfilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-spotnitz/create-a-really-interesting-complex-person-that-you-want-to-know-more/) [Frank Spotnitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-spotnitz/) > [This is the mark of a perfect character - to pass through each day as though it were the last, without agitation, without torpor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/this-is-the-mark-of-a-perfect-character-to-pass-through-each-day-as/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I felt the script of 'Shivajinagara' was perfect as my character is that of a good guy with shades of grey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adithya-menon/i-felt-the-script-of-shivajinagara-was-perfect-as-my-character-is/) [Adithya Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adithya-menon/) > [I don't want a perfect character, I want a character who has, as strange as it sounds, some humanity, some flaws, some needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-don-t-want-a-perfect-character-i-want-a-character-who-has-as/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [A perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-perfect-character-might-be-attended-with-the-inconvenience-of-being/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [No man can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-man-can-worship-god-or-love-his-neighbor-on-an-empty-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Three things are required of man—to worship the gods, to do no evil, and to maintain manly behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-fletcher-crow/three-things-are-required-of-man-to-worship-the-gods-to-do-no-evil/) Donna Fletcher Crow > [The Gods we worship write their names on our faces; be sure of that. And a man will worship something ... That which dominates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-gods-we-worship-write-their-names-on-our-faces-be-sure-of-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Do not worship me, I am not God. I'm only a man. I worship Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-selassie/do-not-worship-me-i-am-not-god-i-m-only-a-man-i-worship-jesus-christ/) [Haile Selassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-selassie/) > [“I'm not a religious man, but I do worship your ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randi-black/i-m-not-a-religious-man-but-i-do-worship-your-ass/) Randi Black > [“Equipped as he is by his very nature for worship, man cannot not worship ; and if his outlook is cut off from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lings/equipped-as-he-is-by-his-very-nature-for-worship-man-cannot-not/) [Martin Lings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lings/) > [The body will shine if the character is fine; service of man and worship of God will preserve its charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-body-will-shine-if-the-character-is-fine-service-of-man-and/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) ## More by Simon Greenleaf > [If a close examination of the evidences of Christianity may be expected of one class of men more than another, it would seem incumbent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/if-a-close-examination-of-the-evidences-of-christianity-may-be/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [It should be pursued as in the presence of God, and under the solemn sanctions created by a lively sense of his omniscience, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/it-should-be-pursued-as-in-the-presence-of-god-and-under-the-solemn/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [Our religion, then, rests on the credit due to these witnesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/our-religion-then-rests-on-the-credit-due-to-these-witnesses/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [In examining the evidence of the Christian religion, it is essential to the discovery of truth that we bring to the investigation a mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/in-examining-the-evidence-of-the-christian-religion-it-is-essential/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [The proof that God has revealed himself to man by special and express communications, and that Christianity constitutes that revelation, is no part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-proof-that-god-has-revealed-himself-to-man-by-special-and-express/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [In the ordinary affairs of life we do not require nor expect demonstrative evidence, because it is inconsistent with the nature of matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/in-the-ordinary-affairs-of-life-we-do-not-require-nor-expect/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [In trials of fact, by oral testimony, the proper inquiry is not whether is it possible that the testimony may be false, but whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/in-trials-of-fact-by-oral-testimony-the-proper-inquiry-is-not-whether/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [There should be a readiness, on our part, to investigate with candor to follow the truth wherever it may lead us, and to submit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/there-should-be-a-readiness-on-our-part-to-investigate-with-candor-to/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [The religion of Jesus Christ aims at nothing less than the utter overthrow of all other systems of religion in the world; denouncing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-religion-of-jesus-christ-aims-at-nothing-less-than-the-utter/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [Either the men of Galilee were men of superlative wisdom, and extensive knowledge and experience, and of deeper skill in the arts of deception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/either-the-men-of-galilee-were-men-of-superlative-wisdom-and/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [The foundation of our belief is a basis of fact - the fact of the birth, ministry, miracles, death, resurrection by the Evangelists as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-foundation-of-our-belief-is-a-basis-of-fact-the-fact-of-the-birth/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [By competent evidence, is meant such as the nature of the thing to be proved requires; and by satisfactory evidence, is meant that amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/by-competent-evidence-is-meant-such-as-the-nature-of-the-thing-to-be/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [These are no ordinary claims; and it seems hardly possible for a rational being to regard them with even a subdued interest; much less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/these-are-no-ordinary-claims-and-it-seems-hardly-possible-for-a/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [How it came to pass that man, originally taught, as we doubt not he was, to know and to worship the true Jehovah, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/how-it-came-to-pass-that-man-originally-taught-as-we-doubt-not-he-was/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [The learned are not agreed as to the time when the Gospel of John was written; some dating it as early as the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-learned-are-not-agreed-as-to-the-time-when-the-gospel-of-john-was/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) [Explore all 26 Simon Greenleaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) ## More Attributes quotes > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I think the greatest imagination we can exercise is one that imagines how someone else feels. Because you know how you feel, but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-gelbart/i-think-the-greatest-imagination-we-can-exercise-is-one-that-imagines/) [Larry Gelbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-gelbart/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the greatest attributes of jazz, I think, is that it is that open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/one-of-the-greatest-attributes-of-jazz-i-think-is-that-it-is-that-open/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I'm Irish and always will be, but America has taught me so much. Maybe it's here in the U.S. that we find a healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/i-m-irish-and-always-will-be-but-america-has-taught-me-so-much-maybe/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [“It is this spirit of godliness that will bring forth the attributes, the principles and the life style of godliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-this-spirit-of-godliness-that-will-bring-forth-the-attributes/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [My Calvinism persuades me that we are open to God, in the sense that we are not delimited, not organisms with fixed attributes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/my-calvinism-persuades-me-that-we-are-open-to-god-in-the-sense-that/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [I have often noticed that the two nuclear powers on the Indian subcontinent, India and Pakistan, attribute to Kashmiris an inferior intellect, a lineage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyla-ali-khan/i-have-often-noticed-that-the-two-nuclear-powers-on-the-indian/) [Nyla Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyla-ali-khan/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/developing-christlike-attributes-in-our-lives-is-not-an-easy-task/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [If I have any attribute that serves me well, it's I don't have a long-range plan in life. I have no idea. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/if-i-have-any-attribute-that-serves-me-well-it-s-i-don-t-have-a-long/) [Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/) Browse all 852 Attributes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it with every attribute, belonging, in his view, to a perfect character; and this character he himself endeavors to attain.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Greenleaf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it-be-will-naturally-be-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attributes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it-be-will-naturally-be-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/simon-greenleaf-23208_attributes_the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it_2717729.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The object of man's worship, whatever it be, will naturally be his standard of perfection. He clothes it…” — Simon Greenleaf", "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": "Simon Greenleaf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The object of man's worship, whatever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it-be-will-naturally-be-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/the-object-of-man-s-worship-whatever-it-be-will-naturally-be-his/#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 } } ] } ```