Beneficial Quote by Sinclair Lewis
“Upon this theology he rarely pondered. The kernel of his practical religion was that it was respectable, and beneficial to one's business, to be seen going to services; that the church kept the Worst Elements from being still worse; and that the pastor's sermons, however dull they might seem at the time of taking, yet had a voodooistic power which 'did a fellow good-- kept him in touch with Higher Things.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Main Street, 1920
He attended church mainly for social respectability and practical benefits, believing sermons oddly helped him stay connected to higher values.
In simple terms: Church attendance for social gain and vague spiritual benefit.
Key Takeaway
Use community rituals for practical networking.
Themes
social respectability
practical religion
community
spirituality
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business networking
- personal morale
- public image
- ethical grounding
Key Concepts
social capital
ritual efficacy
psychological comfort
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you attend rituals for image or belief?
- How does community perception shape personal values?
A Different Perspective
The benefit may be more perceived than real, leading to superficial faith.
![“[Not parroting.] My old Master used to say, "It is all very good to teach the parrot to say, 'Lord, Lord, Lord' all the time; but let the cat come and take hold of its neck, it forgets all about it" [You may] pray all the time, read all the scriptures in the world, and worship all the gods there…” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa5/swami-vivekananda-53_argumentation_not-parroting-my-old-master-used-to-say_1463100.jpg)
