--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever is born is the work of God. So…" description: "\"Whatever is born is the work of God. So whatever is plastered on, is the devil's work… How unworthy of the Christian name it is to wear a fictitious fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/tertullian-3469_appearance_whatever-is-born-is-the-work-of-god-so-w_3090706.jpg" --- # Whatever is born is the work of God. So whatever is… ![“Whatever is born is the work of God. So whatever is plastered on, is the devil's work… How unworthy of the Christian name it is to wear a fictitious face - you on whom simplicity in every form is enjoined! You, to whom lying with the tongue is not lawful, are lying in appearance.” quote by Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/tertullian-3469_appearance_whatever-is-born-is-the-work-of-god-so-w_3090706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/tertullian-3469_appearance_whatever-is-born-is-the-work-of-god-so-w_3090706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/tertullian-3469_appearance_whatever-is-born-is-the-work-of-god-so-w_3090706.jpg) > “Whatever is born is the work of God. So whatever is plastered on, is the devil's work… How unworthy of the Christian name it is to wear a fictitious face - you on whom simplicity in every form is enjoined! You, to whom lying with the tongue is not lawful, are lying in appearance.” [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote condemns hypocrisy, urging honesty and aligning outward appearance with inner truth, especially in faith. **In simple terms:** Avoid pretending; let your actions match your beliefs. Key Takeaway Live authentically, without false fronts. Themes integrity faith authenticity Mood serious thoughtful Type moral spiritual When to use this quote - religious practice - public speaking - personal conduct Key Concepts theology moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What masks do you wear in daily life? - How does honesty affect your spiritual journey? A Different Perspective People may fear judgment when revealing true selves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Born Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-work-1122691/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Devil Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-work-403769/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [God Plastered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-plastered-5313558/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying Appearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-appearance-5313557/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unworthy/) [Work God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-god/) ## Related quotes > [“One of the protestor's sign catches my eye. HOMISEXUALITY IS THE DEVIL'S WORK, it says. And once again I think about how people use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/one-of-the-protestor-s-sign-catches-my-eye-homisexuality-is-the-devil/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“You are joy-seeking beings who have come forth into what we see as the perfect environment for desire to be born within you. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-hicks/you-are-joy-seeking-beings-who-have-come-forth-into-what-we-see-as/) [Abraham Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-hicks/) > [“There ain’t no pay beneath the sun As sweet as rest when a job’s well done. I was born to work up to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/there-ain-t-no-pay-beneath-the-sun-as-sweet-as-rest-when-a-job-s-well/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I always tell myself that we are born here not to work, but to enjoy life. We are here to make things better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/i-always-tell-myself-that-we-are-born-here-not-to-work-but-to-enjoy/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [No man is born into the world whose work Is not born with him. There is always work, And tools to work withal, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/no-man-is-born-into-the-world-whose-work-is-not-born-with-him-there-2/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [My generation was born to work with social media - it's a natural part of our communication with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-hadid/my-generation-was-born-to-work-with-social-media-it-s-a-natural-part/) [Anwar Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-hadid/) > [When you are born, your work is placed in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/when-you-are-born-your-work-is-placed-in-your-heart/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [What you can become is the miracle you were born to be through the work that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-you-can-become-is-the-miracle-you-were-born-to-be-through-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you work you fulfill a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born, And what is it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-work-you-fulfill-a-part-of-earth-s-furthest-dream-assigned-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No man is born into the world whose work is not born with him. There is always work, and tools to work with, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/no-man-is-born-into-the-world-whose-work-is-not-born-with-him-there/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Each man has an aptitude born with him. Do your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/each-man-has-an-aptitude-born-with-him-do-your-work/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“If the Creator should take the line that I am born to work and not to sleep, I would agree that I am indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsume-s-seki/if-the-creator-should-take-the-line-that-i-am-born-to-work-and-not-to/) [Natsume Sōseki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsume-s-seki/) > [“the devil may work against us for all he is worth, but God sends us men when we want them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/the-devil-may-work-against-us-for-all-he-is-worth-but-god-sends-us/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [Some people were born to work for others. Not in a mindless, servile-way--rather they simply work better in a set regimen of daily tasks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-were-born-to-work-for-others-not-in-a-mindless-servile/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Some people are destined to dream (some, indeed, are paid rather well to do so); some are born to work, practical and concrete and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-eduardo-agualusa/some-people-are-destined-to-dream-some-indeed-are-paid-rather-well-to/) [José Eduardo Agualusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-eduardo-agualusa/) ## More by Tertullian > [The soul whose bosom lust did never touch Is God's fair bride; and maiden's souls are such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-soul-whose-bosom-lust-did-never-touch-is-god-s-fair-bride-and/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it. You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/you-can-t-undo-anything-you-ve-already-done-but-you-can-face-up-to-it/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Indeed it is better to postpone, lest either we complete too little by hurrying, or wander too long in completing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/indeed-it-is-better-to-postpone-lest-either-we-complete-too-little-by/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [A man becomes a Christian, he is not born one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/a-man-becomes-a-christian-he-is-not-born-one/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The Word, then, the Christ, is the cause both of our ancient beginning, for lie was in God, and of our well-being. And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-word-then-the-christ-is-the-cause-both-of-our-ancient-beginning/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [But now inquiry is being made concerning these issues. First, can any believer enlist in the military? Second, can any soldier, even those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/but-now-inquiry-is-being-made-concerning-these-issues-first-can-any/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Let women paint their eyes with tints of chastity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/let-women-paint-their-eyes-with-tints-of-chastity/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-blood-of-the-martyrs-is-the-seed-of-the-church/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [It is certainly no part of religion to compel religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/it-is-certainly-no-part-of-religion-to-compel-religion/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Now then, you dogs, whom the apostle puts outside and who yelp at the God of truth, let us come to your various questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/now-then-you-dogs-whom-the-apostle-puts-outside-and-who-yelp-at-the/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Hope is patience with the lamp lit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/hope-is-patience-with-the-lamp-lit/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [What has Athens to do with Jerusalem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/what-has-athens-to-do-with-jerusalem/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [God the Father's a deep root; the Son's the shoot that breaks into the world; the Spirit spreads the beauty & fragrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/god-the-father-s-a-deep-root-the-son-s-the-shoot-that-breaks-into-the/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [The nature of rumor is known to all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-nature-of-rumor-is-known-to-all/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [Prevention of birth is premature murder, and it makes no difference whether it is a life already born that one snatches away or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/prevention-of-birth-is-premature-murder-and-it-makes-no-difference/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) [Explore all 130 Tertullian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) [Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever is born is the work of God. So whatever is plastered on, is the devil's work… How unworthy of the Christian name it is to wear a fictitious face - you on whom simplicity in every form is enjoined! 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