--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea which tyrants find most useful…" description: "\"The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God.\" — Stendhal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg" --- # The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God. ![“The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God.” quote by Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg) > “The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God.” [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Powerful leaders exploit religion to legitimize authority and control populations. **In simple terms:** Tyrants use God to rule. Key Takeaway Question the use of faith in politics. Themes politics religion power control authority Mood critical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political campaigns - public speeches - education - media narratives Key Concepts theology social manipulation Questions to Reflect On - How does faith empower individuals versus regimes? - Can secular ethics replace religious authority? A Different Perspective Religion can also inspire genuine moral behavior, not just oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) ## Related quotes > [“Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/have-you-any-idea-how-much-tyrants-fear-the-people-they-oppress-all/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-you-any-idea-how-much-tyrants-fear-the-people-they-oppress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [... The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise and good Being, arises from reflecting on the operations of our own mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-idea-of-god-as-meaning-an-infinitely-intelligent-wise-and-good/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“The idea of God was invented in the small hours of history by a scam who had genius; it somehow reeks too much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-idea-of-god-was-invented-in-the-small-hours-of-history-by-a-scam/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/that-deep-emotional-conviction-of-the-presence-of-a-superior/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [... superstitions, which, being unable to defend themselves on fair ground, raise these intangling brambles to cover and protect their weakness. Chased from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/superstitions-which-being-unable-to-defend-themselves-on-fair-ground/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [After all, is our idea of God anything more than personified incomprehensibility?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/after-all-is-our-idea-of-god-anything-more-than-personified/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [“A man’s idea of God corresponds to his ideal of himself. The nobler he is, the more exalted his God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-marshall/a-man-s-idea-of-god-corresponds-to-his-ideal-of-himself-the-nobler-he/) [Megan Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-marshall/) > [Once I Had No Idea How God Looked-Like But Now I See My God In You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-i-had-no-idea-how-god-looked-like-but-now-i-see-my-god-in-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since many things we see were once an idea, let us create good ideas today because they will be the realities of tomorrow! When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/since-many-things-we-see-were-once-an-idea-let-us-create-good-ideas/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Not every good idea is God's perfect will for you; it may need discerning, wisdom and experience to tell the difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-lucas-d-shallua/not-every-good-idea-is-god-s-perfect-will-for-you-it-may-need/) [Dr. Lucas D. Shallua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-lucas-d-shallua/) > [Nature herself has imprinted on the minds of all the idea of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nature-herself-has-imprinted-on-the-minds-of-all-the-idea-of-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ When \[Satan\] undertook to draw Eve away from God, he did not hit her with a stick, but with an idea. It was with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/when-satan-undertook-to-draw-eve-away-from-god-he-did-not-hit-her/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/the-idea-of-god-is-the-sole-wrong-for-which-i-cannot-forgive-mankind/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [“So you truly do not believe in God?" "I find no reason to, in nature... If the idea of God is unknown in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/so-you-truly-do-not-believe-in-god-i-find-no-reason-to-in-nature-if/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## More by Stendhal > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The pleasures and the cares of the luckiest ambition, even of limitless power, are nothing next to the intimate happiness that tenderness and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-pleasures-and-the-cares-of-the-luckiest-ambition-even-of/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-a-race-is-governed-by-its-passions-the-less-it-has-acquired/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The tyranny of public opinion (and what an opinion!) is as fatuous in the small towns of France as it is in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-tyranny-of-public-opinion-and-what-an-opinion-is-as-fatuous-in/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [In love, unlike most other passions, the recollection of what you have had and lost is always better than what you can hope for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/in-love-unlike-most-other-passions-the-recollection-of-what-you-have/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“The footman burst in, announcing, 'Monsieur le Duc de ---.' 'Hold your tongue, you fool,' said the Duke as he entered the room. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-footman-burst-in-announcing-monsieur-le-duc-de-hold-your-tongue/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Signs cannot be represented, in a spy's report, so damningly as words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/signs-cannot-be-represented-in-a-spy-s-report-so-damningly-as-words/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“If you think of paying court to those in power, your eternal ruin is assured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/if-you-think-of-paying-court-to-those-in-power-your-eternal-ruin-is/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Your career will be a painful one. I divine something in you which offends the vulgar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/your-career-will-be-a-painful-one-i-divine-something-in-you-which/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [On a cold winter morning a cigar fortifies the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/on-a-cold-winter-morning-a-cigar-fortifies-the-soul/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [A forty-year-old woman is only something to men who have loved her in her youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/a-forty-year-old-woman-is-only-something-to-men-who-have-loved-her-in/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Perhaps men who cannot love passionately are those who feel the effect of beauty most keenly; at any rate this is the strongest impression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/perhaps-men-who-cannot-love-passionately-are-those-who-feel-the/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Who knows whether it is not true that phosphorus and mind are not the same thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/who-knows-whether-it-is-not-true-that-phosphorus-and-mind-are-not-the/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“Could anything possibly be more humorous than believing in the depth or in the depravity of the Parisian character?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/could-anything-possibly-be-more-humorous-than-believing-in-the-depth/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“I will never demean myself to speak about my courage," said Julien, coldly, "it would be mean to do so. Let the world judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/i-will-never-demean-myself-to-speak-about-my-courage-said-julien/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) [Explore all 184 Stendhal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) ## More Idea quotes > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [Everybody has a good idea, but nothing goes as planned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/everybody-has-a-good-idea-but-nothing-goes-as-planned/) [Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. If I see a student or house staff cry, I take great faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/i-ve-never-bought-this-idea-of-taking-a-therapeutic-distance-if-i-see/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [The idea with a collection is sort of to begin with a kind of bang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/the-idea-with-a-collection-is-sort-of-to-begin-with-a-kind-of-bang/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [When there's a firestorm going on around you, you have very little idea of what's next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/when-there-s-a-firestorm-going-on-around-you-you-have-very-little/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [The idea is not to copy nature, but to give a feeling of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-oudolf/the-idea-is-not-to-copy-nature-but-to-give-a-feeling-of-nature/) Piet Oudolf > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [My mom had no idea she was having twins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-bella/my-mom-had-no-idea-she-was-having-twins/) [Brie Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-bella/) > [When I was 12 years old, I went to Natchitoches, La.; it was summer vacation with my family. We visited a plantation, Melrose. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/when-i-was-12-years-old-i-went-to-natchitoches-la-it-was-summer/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [I get worked up over an 'idea' or the ethos of an idea. I follow dreams, take notes on travels, and engage in research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/i-get-worked-up-over-an-idea-or-the-ethos-of-an-idea-i-follow-dreams/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) [Browse all 4,953 Idea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stendhal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful-is-the-idea-of-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Idea" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful-is-the-idea-of-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e22/stendhal-1379_idea_the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful_264787.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God.” — Stendhal", "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": "Stendhal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The idea which tyrants find most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful-is-the-idea-of-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-idea-which-tyrants-find-most-useful-is-the-idea-of-god/#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 } } ] } ```