--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only analogy I have before me is…" description: "\"The only analogy I have before me is Socrates. My task is a Socratic task, to revise the definition of what it is to be a Christian. For my part I do n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/soren-kierkegaard-578_able_the-only-analogy-i-have-before-me-is-soc_841578.jpg" --- # The only analogy I have before me is Socrates. My task is… ![“The only analogy I have before me is Socrates. My task is a Socratic task, to revise the definition of what it is to be a Christian. For my part I do not call myself a "Christian" (thus keeping the ideal free), but I am able to make it evident that the others are still less than I.” quote by Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/soren-kierkegaard-578_able_the-only-analogy-i-have-before-me-is-soc_841578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/soren-kierkegaard-578_able_the-only-analogy-i-have-before-me-is-soc_841578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/soren-kierkegaard-578_able_the-only-analogy-i-have-before-me-is-soc_841578.jpg) > “The only analogy I have before me is Socrates. My task is a Socratic task, to revise the definition of what it is to be a Christian. For my part I do not call myself a "Christian" (thus keeping the ideal free), but I am able to make it evident that the others are still less than I.” [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens his task of redefining Christianity to Socratic questioning, distancing himself from the label while asserting a superior understanding. **In simple terms:** He compares redefining Christianity to Socrates, avoids calling himself Christian, and claims others are inferior. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and avoid self‑labeling to maintain intellectual freedom. Themes philosophy religion identity critical thinking self‑definition Mood critical provocative introspective Type philosophical discourse theological critique When to use this quote - academic debate on faith - personal theological reflection - public discourse on religion - teaching philosophy Key Concepts Socratic method existential critique self‑distinction Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be “less than” others in belief? - How does avoiding labels affect community engagement? A Different Perspective His claim of superiority may alienate others and limit dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) [Analogy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogy/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Socratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socratic/) ## Related quotes > [“The definition of Christian art is to be found in its subject and its spirit. Everything, sacred and profane, belongs to it. God does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-definition-of-christian-art-is-to-be-found-in-its-subject-and-its/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [“By any reasonable definition, the Christian God is an extraterrestrial. And given God’s track record of demanding human sacrifices and destroying whole cities, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/by-any-reasonable-definition-the-christian-god-is-an-extraterrestrial/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [The dictionary definition of a Christian is one who follows Christ; kind, kindly, Christ-like. Anarchism is voluntary cooperation for good, with the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammon-hennacy/the-dictionary-definition-of-a-christian-is-one-who-follows-christ/) [Ammon Hennacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammon-hennacy/) > [“But no. That was analogy rather than homology. What in the humanities they would call a heroic simile, if he understood the term, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/but-no-that-was-analogy-rather-than-homology-what-in-the-humanities/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [We often attribute 'understanding' and other cognitive predicates by metaphor and analogy to cars, adding machines, and other artifacts, but nothing is proved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/we-often-attribute-understanding-and-other-cognitive-predicates-by/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [When I make a representation of something, this, too, is an analogy to what exists; I make an effort to get a grip on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/when-i-make-a-representation-of-something-this-too-is-an-analogy-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [I do not understand this analogy," Mencheres muttered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-do-not-understand-this-analogy-mencheres-muttered/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [People sometimes say, "Isn't it boring, isn't it always the same? It's the same lines." I go, "Well, do you play tennis? Because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/people-sometimes-say-isn-t-it-boring-isn-t-it-always-the-same-it-s/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Life is like an analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-allston/life-is-like-an-analogy/) [Aaron Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-allston/) > [The analogy I use is that 'World of Warcraft' is like going to the mall: you see a ton of people there, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romero/the-analogy-i-use-is-that-world-of-warcraft-is-like-going-to-the-mall/) [John Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romero/) > [The real achievement in discoveries... is seeing an analogy where no one saw one before... The essence of discovery is that unlikely marriage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-real-achievement-in-discoveries-is-seeing-an-analogy-where-no-one/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [There is then no analogy whatever between the operations of the Chess-Player, and those of the calculating machine of Mr. Babbage , and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/there-is-then-no-analogy-whatever-between-the-operations-of-the-chess/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [E-books are impervious to analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/e-books-are-impervious-to-analogy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The nude does not simply represent the body, but relates it, by analogy, to all structures that have become part of our imaginative experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/the-nude-does-not-simply-represent-the-body-but-relates-it-by-analogy/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [Historical analogy is the last refuge of people who can't grasp the current situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historical-analogy-is-the-last-refuge-of-people-who-can-t-grasp-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Soren Kierkegaard > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Christians remind me of schoolboys who want to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the book rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christians-remind-me-of-schoolboys-who-want-to-look-up-the-answers-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [People commonly travel the world over to see rivers and mountains, new stars, garish birds, freak fish, grotesque breeds of human; they fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/people-commonly-travel-the-world-over-to-see-rivers-and-mountains-new/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“A strange thing happened to me in my dream. I was rapt into the Seventh Heaven. There sat all the gods assembled. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-strange-thing-happened-to-me-in-my-dream-i-was-rapt-into-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [That which is truly human no generation learns from the one before it. No generation learns from another how to love. No generation has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/that-which-is-truly-human-no-generation-learns-from-the-one-before-it/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A man may perform astonishing feats and comprehend a vast amount of knowledge, and yet have no understanding of himself. 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The important thing is to make a beginning and get under way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-road-well-begun-is-the-battle-half-won-the-important-thing-is-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I have, I believe, the courage to doubt everything; I have, I believe, the courage to fight against everything; but I do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-i-believe-the-courage-to-doubt-everything-i-have-i-believe-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) [Explore all 462 Soren Kierkegaard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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