--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are on the whole an idolatrous people." description: "\"We are on the whole an idolatrous people.\" — Spencer W. Kimball" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/spencer-w-kimball-1179_idols_we-are-on-the-whole-an-idolatrous-people_707329.jpg" --- # We are on the whole an idolatrous people. ![“We are on the whole an idolatrous people.” quote by Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/spencer-w-kimball-1179_idols_we-are-on-the-whole-an-idolatrous-people_707329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/spencer-w-kimball-1179_idols_we-are-on-the-whole-an-idolatrous-people_707329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6be/spencer-w-kimball-1179_idols_we-are-on-the-whole-an-idolatrous-people_707329.jpg) > “We are on the whole an idolatrous people.” [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity tends toward idolatry, placing ultimate trust in material things instead of the divine. **In simple terms:** People worship worldly things over God. Key Takeaway Prioritize spiritual values over materialism. Themes religion idolatry spirituality Mood contemplative serene Type scriptural motivational When to use this quote - church teachings - personal meditation - community discussions Key Concepts theology human nature materialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify modern idols? - What steps foster true worship? A Different Perspective Spiritual focus can be challenged by societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [A youth's love is the more passionate; virgin love is the more idolatrous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/a-youth-s-love-is-the-more-passionate-virgin-love-is-the-more/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“We have placed such idolatrous faith in our ability to protect ourselves that we call it more courageous to die killing than to die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-have-placed-such-idolatrous-faith-in-our-ability-to-protect/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Modern society has not rid itself of religion, as it fondly believes; it has merely replaced the historical religions by a host of idolatrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-herberg/modern-society-has-not-rid-itself-of-religion-as-it-fondly-believes/) [Will Herberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-herberg/) > [Those who confine God's love exclusively to the elect appear to me to take a narrow and contracted view of God's character and attributes…I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-confine-god-s-love-exclusively-to-the-elect-appear-to-me-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Any concept of God, however sincerely held, that is contrary to Scripture is false, and in the end idolatrous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-concept-of-god-however-sincerely-held-that-is-contrary-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-cute-and-god-i-hate-that-because-that-s-not-cool-i-m-like-your/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [My idols have always stuck to their guns and said what they want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/my-idols-have-always-stuck-to-their-guns-and-said-what-they-want-to-do/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [My idol was Sandino, and also Christ. I was brought up a Christian, but I regarded Christ as a rebel, a revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ortega/my-idol-was-sandino-and-also-christ-i-was-brought-up-a-christian-but/) [Daniel Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ortega/) > [“We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-must-not-touch-our-idols-the-gilt-sticks-to-our-fingers/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/) Richard Keyes > [Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/proof-is-an-idol-before-which-the-mathematician-tortures-himself/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/that-s-one-of-my-idols-i-really-look-up-to-pacquiao-this-guy-is/) [Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/) ## More by Spencer W. Kimball > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/you-are-unique-and-there-may-be-incidents-in-your-experience-that-are/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [We have a commitment to serve our Lord. We have an assurance that the cause is just and worthy. But, above all, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/we-have-a-commitment-to-serve-our-lord-we-have-an-assurance-that-the/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Self-justification is the enemy of repentance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/self-justification-is-the-enemy-of-repentance/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Henry Ward Beecher expressed the thought this way: "I can forgive but I cannot forget is another way of saying I cannot forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/henry-ward-beecher-expressed-the-thought-this-way-i-can-forgive-but-i/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“While addressing the Saints from this pulpit in 1948, the late President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., spoke concerning having a prophet and a listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/while-addressing-the-saints-from-this-pulpit-in-1948-the-late/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [ \[Humility is:\] Greatness in plain clothes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/humility-is-greatness-in-plain-clothes/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [ “There may be some who would disregard \[the family\] and ignore the important things, yet we feel that almost everyone who stops to think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/there-may-be-some-who-would-disregard-the-family-and-ignore-the/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Jesus perfected his life and became our Christ. Priceless blood of a god was shed, and he became our Savior; his perfected life was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/jesus-perfected-his-life-and-became-our-christ-priceless-blood-of-a/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [To be sure your life will be full and abundant, you must plan your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/to-be-sure-your-life-will-be-full-and-abundant-you-must-plan-your-life/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Life gives to all the choice. You can satisfy yourself with mediocrity if you wish. You can be common, ordinary, dull, colorless, or yyou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/life-gives-to-all-the-choice-you-can-satisfy-yourself-with-mediocrity/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Always keep good company. Never waste an hour with anyone who doesn't lift you up and encourage you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/always-keep-good-company-never-waste-an-hour-with-anyone-who-doesn-t/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“Honorable, happy, and successful marriage is surely the principal goal of every normal person. Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/honorable-happy-and-successful-marriage-is-surely-the-principal-goal/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [A dozen times a day we come to a fork in the road and must decide which way we will go. It is important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/a-dozen-times-a-day-we-come-to-a-fork-in-the-road-and-must-decide/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) [Explore all 278 Spencer W. Kimball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) ## More Idols quotes > [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/that-s-one-of-my-idols-i-really-look-up-to-pacquiao-this-guy-is/) [Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [Proof is an idol before which the mathematician tortures himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/proof-is-an-idol-before-which-the-mathematician-tortures-himself/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/) Richard Keyes > [I'm cute - and God I hate that. Because that's not cool. I'm like your niece, and nobody wants to date their niece. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-cute-and-god-i-hate-that-because-that-s-not-cool-i-m-like-your/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [“We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-must-not-touch-our-idols-the-gilt-sticks-to-our-fingers/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [My idol was Sandino, and also Christ. I was brought up a Christian, but I regarded Christ as a rebel, a revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ortega/my-idol-was-sandino-and-also-christ-i-was-brought-up-a-christian-but/) [Daniel Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ortega/) > [My idols have always stuck to their guns and said what they want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/my-idols-have-always-stuck-to-their-guns-and-said-what-they-want-to-do/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [A lot of the former Idols were voting for me, and that makes me feel really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-porsha-renae/a-lot-of-the-former-idols-were-voting-for-me-and-that-makes-me-feel/) [La'Porsha Renae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/la-porsha-renae/) > [And one fine day the goddess of the wind kisses the foot of man, that mistreated, scorned foot, and from that kiss the soccer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/and-one-fine-day-the-goddess-of-the-wind-kisses-the-foot-of-man-that/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [First Moloch, horrid king, besmirched in blood, Of Human sacrifice, and parent's tears, Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, Their childrens'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/first-moloch-horrid-king-besmirched-in-blood-of-human-sacrifice-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/we-think-that-idols-are-bad-things-but-that-is-almost-never-the-case/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Browse all 856 Idols quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are on the whole an idolatrous people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Spencer W. 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