--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To defend something is always to…" description: "\"To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man have a warehouse full of gold, let him be willing to give away a ducat to every one of the poo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/soren-kierkegaard-578_charitable_to-defend-something-is-always-to-discred_1825181.jpg" --- # To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man… ![“To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man have a warehouse full of gold, let him be willing to give away a ducat to every one of the poor - but let him also be stupid enough to begin this charitable undertaking of his with a defense in which he offers three good reasons in…” quote by Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/soren-kierkegaard-578_charitable_to-defend-something-is-always-to-discred_1825181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/soren-kierkegaard-578_charitable_to-defend-something-is-always-to-discred_1825181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/soren-kierkegaard-578_charitable_to-defend-something-is-always-to-discred_1825181.jpg) > “To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man have a warehouse full of gold, let him be willing to give away a ducat to every one of the poor - but let him also be stupid enough to begin this charitable undertaking of his with a defense in which he offers three good reasons in justification; and it will almost come to the point of people finding it doubtful whether indeed he is doing something good. But now for Christianity. Yes, the person who defends that has never believed in it.” [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. Defending a cause often leads to rationalizations that undermine its moral value, especially when the defender lacks genuine belief. **In simple terms:** Defending something can reveal its flaws, especially if the defender is insincere. Key Takeaway Question motives behind your defenses. Themes ethics faith authenticity Mood skeptical reflective Type philosophical critical ethical When to use this quote - political debate - charitable actions - religious discourse - personal integrity Key Concepts Moral philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly believe in what you defend? - How can we discern genuine conviction from strategic justification? A Different Perspective Even sincere defenses can mask self‑interest or hypocrisy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charitable/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend/) [Defend Discredit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-discredit-2227468/) [Defends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defends/) [Defends Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defends-believed-2227469/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Discredit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discredit/) [Doubtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Offers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Person Defends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-defends-2227470/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Undertakings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertakings/) [Warehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warehouse/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [“To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man have a warehouse full of gold, let him be willing to give away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/to-defend-something-is-always-to-discredit-it-let-a-man-have-a/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [I'm not a person who defends myself very often. I kind of let my actions speak for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/i-m-not-a-person-who-defends-myself-very-often-i-kind-of-let-my/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [The World Trade Organization is an organization that defends trade interests. I think the problem is less that they exist. The problem is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/the-world-trade-organization-is-an-organization-that-defends-trade/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [Man only honors what he conquers or defends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/man-only-honors-what-he-conquers-or-defends/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [For me, what makes Liverpool special is that they are a team that works very well on the lines, very compact, in which everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-krkic/for-me-what-makes-liverpool-special-is-that-they-are-a-team-that/) [Bojan Krkic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-krkic/) > [No science ever defends its first principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/no-science-ever-defends-its-first-principles/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I never seem to be able to sell my films correctly in the U.S. The U.S. defends itself on its own turf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/i-never-seem-to-be-able-to-sell-my-films-correctly-in-the-u-s-the-u-s/) [Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/) > [A true friend is one who upon seeing a fault gives you advice and defends you in your absence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narenkumar/a-true-friend-is-one-who-upon-seeing-a-fault-gives-you-advice-and/) [Narenkumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narenkumar/) > [Exercise thy lasting youth defends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/exercise-thy-lasting-youth-defends/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [Ecuador is a country which defends the right to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-correa/ecuador-is-a-country-which-defends-the-right-to-life/) [Rafael Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-correa/) > [God loves and defends those with the least economic and social power, and so should we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-loves-and-defends-those-with-the-least-economic-and-social-power/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Republicans constantly claim to be the party that defends the Constitution. We have no legitimate right to that claim until we get right on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/republicans-constantly-claim-to-be-the-party-that-defends-the/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [The length of this document defends it well against the risk of its being read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-length-of-this-document-defends-it-well-against-the-risk-of-its/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Every nation makes decisions based on self-interest and defends them on the basis of morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/every-nation-makes-decisions-based-on-self-interest-and-defends-them/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [Truth is treasurer.You have not to defend it.Truth always defends itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/truth-is-treasurer-you-have-not-to-defend-it-truth-always-defends/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) ## 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. 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But suffering directs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-man-may-perform-astonishing-feats-and-comprehend-a-vast-amount-of/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Be that self which one truly is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/be-that-self-which-one-truly-is/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I go fishing for a thousand monsters in the depths of my own self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-go-fishing-for-a-thousand-monsters-in-the-depths-of-my-own-self/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Future is everything that past has forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/future-is-everything-that-past-has-forgotten/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Without risk, faith is an impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/without-risk-faith-is-an-impossibility/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I have only one confidant, and that is the silence of night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-only-one-confidant-and-that-is-the-silence-of-night/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [A road well begun is the battle half won. 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In the United States, this logic still works. In Europe, it hardly does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/companies-are-not-charitable-enterprises-they-hire-workers-to-make/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-highest-perfection-of-politeness-is-only-a-beautiful-edifice/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Though the world may often appear to be more charitable than the church, it is crucial to remember that, for the church, the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/though-the-world-may-often-appear-to-be-more-charitable-than-the/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [I am involved with so many charitable organizations. Lung Cancer because of my dad, Breast Cancer because as a woman and mother of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-am-involved-with-so-many-charitable-organizations-lung-cancer/) [Lois Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-robbins/) > [As different as we are from one another, as unique as each one of us is, we are much more the same than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/as-different-as-we-are-from-one-another-as-unique-as-each-one-of-us/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [Nowhere is wisdom more necessary than in the guidance of charitable impulses. Meaning well is only half our duty; Thinking right is the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gridley-howe/nowhere-is-wisdom-more-necessary-than-in-the-guidance-of-charitable/) [Samuel Gridley Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gridley-howe/) > [Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is mightier in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/our-heavenly-father-is-far-more-merciful-infinitely-more-charitable/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [ I mean, I think it would humanize Hillary \[Clinton\] incredibly to detail how she was involved in the family charitable organization. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-mean-i-think-it-would-humanize-hillary-clinton-incredibly-to-detail/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The Bush administration, they had two blue ribbon commissions about infrastructure finance that recommended a lot more money, and additionally the gas tax being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lahood/the-bush-administration-they-had-two-blue-ribbon-commissions-about/) [Ray LaHood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lahood/) > [Many people are alienated by faceless bureaucracy and what they see as an erosion of participatory democracy. 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It unified us as a country and showed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/september-11-is-one-of-our-worst-days-but-it-brought-out-the-best-in/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) [Browse all 293 Charitable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charitable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man have a warehouse full of gold, let him be willing to give away a ducat to every one of the poor - but let him also be stupid enough to begin this charitable undertaking of his with a defense in which he offers three good reasons in justification; and it will almost come to the point of people finding it doubtful whether indeed he is doing something good. But now for Christianity. 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