--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The covetous man is like a camel with a…" description: "\"The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his back; heaven's gate must be made Higher and broader, or he will hardly get in.\" — Thomas Adams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png" --- # The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his… ![“The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his back; heaven's gate must be made Higher and broader, or he will hardly get in.” quote by Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png) > “The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his back; heaven's gate must be made Higher and broader, or he will hardly get in.” [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A covetous person is likened to a camel with a large hump, implying that selfish desire burdens the soul and hinders spiritual entry. **In simple terms:** Greed burdens the soul and blocks spiritual growth. Key Takeaway Guard against greed to stay spiritually open. Themes greed spirituality humility self-control obstacle faith Mood reflective concerned motivational Type moral religious didactic When to use this quote - personal finance - spiritual counseling - church teaching - ethical decision making Key Concepts Christian ethics symbolic metaphor moral teaching Questions to Reflect On - What personal habits fuel your greed? - How can humility replace selfish ambition? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex motivations behind desire, ignoring systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [The covetous man pines in plenty, like Tantalus up to the chin in water, and yet thirsty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-pines-in-plenty-like-tantalus-up-to-the-chin-in/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [“Jesus loves me! He who dead heaven's gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, let His little child come in. Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-shen/jesus-loves-me-he-who-dead-heaven-s-gate-to-open-wide-he-will-wash/) Chang Shen > [“Many people believe they have found the key to Heaven's gate, not realizing that there is no key hole. It is a barrier upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/many-people-believe-they-have-found-the-key-to-heaven-s-gate-not/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [The key to heaven's gate cannot be duplicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/the-key-to-heaven-s-gate-cannot-be-duplicated/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > ['Heaven's Gate' was based on a true story about the cattle people: the people who had the money turned on the settlers who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/heaven-s-gate-was-based-on-a-true-story-about-the-cattle-people-the/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [“  Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad   For Man, for of his state by this they knew,   Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/th-angelic-guards-ascended-mute-and-sad-for-man-for-of-his-state-by/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Every couple of years we'll watch the movie and it's like watching home movies, seeing the ranch on-screen. But that movie Heaven's Gate, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/every-couple-of-years-we-ll-watch-the-movie-and-it-s-like-watching/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [I give you the end of a golden string, Only wind it into a ball, It will lead you in at Heaven's gate Built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/i-give-you-the-end-of-a-golden-string-only-wind-it-into-a-ball-it/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > ['Heaven's Gate' I remember, because it was the first movie I ever was cast in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/heaven-s-gate-i-remember-because-it-was-the-first-movie-i-ever-was/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [Repentance lifts a man up. Mourning knocks at heaven's gate. Holy humility opens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/repentance-lifts-a-man-up-mourning-knocks-at-heaven-s-gate-holy/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [“The life of a poet lies not merely in the finite language-dance of expression but in the nearly infinite combinations of perception and memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/the-life-of-a-poet-lies-not-merely-in-the-finite-language-dance-of/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [The covetous man heaps up riches, not to enjoy them, but to have them; and starves himself in the midst of plenty, and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/the-covetous-man-heaps-up-riches-not-to-enjoy-them-but-to-have-them/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [The poor man wants many things; the covetous man, all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-poor-man-wants-many-things-the-covetous-man-all/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-covetous-man-never-has-money-the-prodigal-will-have-none-shortly/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The covetous man feareth not God. This also is plain from the word because it setteth covetousness and the fear of God in direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-covetous-man-feareth-not-god-this-also-is-plain-from-the-word/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) ## More by Thomas Adams > [The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-bible-is-to-us-what-the-star-was-to-the-wise-men-but-if-we-spend/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Ever tell me of a humble heart where I see a stubborn knee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/ever-tell-me-of-a-humble-heart-where-i-see-a-stubborn-knee/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Conscience is God's deputy in the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/conscience-is-god-s-deputy-in-the-soul/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The hypocrite, certainly, is a secret atheist; for if he did believe there was a God, he durst not be so bold as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-hypocrite-certainly-is-a-secret-atheist-for-if-he-did-believe/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The covetous man pines in plenty, like Tantalus up to the chin in water, and yet thirsty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-pines-in-plenty-like-tantalus-up-to-the-chin-in/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The ambitious climb high and perilous stairs, and never care how to come down; the desire of rising hath swallowed up their fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-ambitious-climb-high-and-perilous-stairs-and-never-care-how-to/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Blessed be God, I not only begin praying when I kneel down, but I do not leave off praying when I rise up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/blessed-be-god-i-not-only-begin-praying-when-i-kneel-down-but-i-do/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [A man may be so bold of his predestination, that he forget his conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/a-man-may-be-so-bold-of-his-predestination-that-he-forget-his/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Even the tired horse, when he comes near home, mends pace: be good always, without weariness, but best at last; that the nearer thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/even-the-tired-horse-when-he-comes-near-home-mends-pace-be-good/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [The devil makes his Christmas-pie of lawyers' tongues and clerks' fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-devil-makes-his-christmas-pie-of-lawyers-tongues-and-clerks/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [If thou wilt fly from God, the devil will lend thee both spurs and a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/if-thou-wilt-fly-from-god-the-devil-will-lend-thee-both-spurs-and-a/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Better a holy discord than a profane concord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/better-a-holy-discord-than-a-profane-concord/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [There is no coming to heaven with dry eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/there-is-no-coming-to-heaven-with-dry-eyes/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Plan the town, if you like; but in doing it do not forget that you have got to spread the people. Make wider roads,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/plan-the-town-if-you-like-but-in-doing-it-do-not-forget-that-you-have/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) > [Baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/baptizing-them-in-the-name-of-the-father-of-the-son-and-of-the-holy/) [Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) [Explore all 48 Thomas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/) ## More Camels quotes > [In cities it is useless to look at the stars or to describe them, worship them, or seek direction from them. When lost, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/in-cities-it-is-useless-to-look-at-the-stars-or-to-describe-them/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Astride a horse I am not, nor camel-like carry a load, Subjects I have none, nor follow any sultan's code; I worry not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/astride-a-horse-i-am-not-nor-camel-like-carry-a-load-subjects-i-have/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Rich folks may ride on camels, but it ain't so easy for 'em to see out of a needle's eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/rich-folks-may-ride-on-camels-but-it-ain-t-so-easy-for-em-to-see-out/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Death is a black camel, which kneels at the gates of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdelkader-el-djezairi/death-is-a-black-camel-which-kneels-at-the-gates-of-all/) [Abdelkader El Djezairi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdelkader-el-djezairi/) > [Camels are snobbish and sheep, unintelligent; water buffaloes, neurasthenic-- even murderous. Reindeer seem over-serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/camels-are-snobbish-and-sheep-unintelligent-water-buffaloes/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [My heart has become capable of every form: It is a pasture for gazelles And a monastery for Christian monks, And the pilgrim's Ka'ba,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-arabi/my-heart-has-become-capable-of-every-form-it-is-a-pasture-for/) [Ibn Arabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-arabi/) > [“I want to spit back at a camel and ask him what he's so sour about. Maybe camels are the real 'Old Ones' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-want-to-spit-back-at-a-camel-and-ask-him-what-he-s-so-sour-about/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [It's the camel's nose in the tent. Look at Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin--every one of these monsters, on seizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/it-s-the-camel-s-nose-in-the-tent-look-at-stalin-mussolini-hitler-mao/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [You'd think that would have been forgotten long ago. But no, no sooner has a little grass grown over it than some clumsy camel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/you-d-think-that-would-have-been-forgotten-long-ago-but-no-no-sooner/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [Don't you think it's strange that life, described as so rich and full, a camel-trail of adventure, should shrink to this coin-sized world? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/don-t-you-think-it-s-strange-that-life-described-as-so-rich-and-full/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Sybil's female forebears had valiantly backed up their husbands as distant embassies were besieged, had given birth on a camel or in the shade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sybil-s-female-forebears-had-valiantly-backed-up-their-husbands-as/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Our camels plodded along. Katrina tried to kiss, or possibly spit on Hindenburg, and Hindenburg farted in response. I found this a depressing commentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/our-camels-plodded-along-katrina-tried-to-kiss-or-possibly-spit-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On horseback you feel as if you're moving in time to classical music; a camel seems to progress to the beat of a drum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-moers/on-horseback-you-feel-as-if-you-re-moving-in-time-to-classical-music/) [Walter Moers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-moers/) > [He spent more time on the road to Damascus than a Syrian camel driver. And we thought nobody could fill John Kerry's flip-flops! ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/he-spent-more-time-on-the-road-to-damascus-than-a-syrian-camel-driver/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) [Browse all 187 Camels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his back; heaven's gate must be made Higher and broader, or he will hardly get in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a-great-hunch-on-his-back/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Camels" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a-great-hunch-on-his-back/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6d/thomas-adams-13989_camels_the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a_1140372.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The covetous man is like a camel with a great hunch on his back; heaven's gate must be made Higher and…” — Thomas Adams", "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": "Thomas Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The covetous man is like a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a-great-hunch-on-his-back/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/the-covetous-man-is-like-a-camel-with-a-great-hunch-on-his-back/#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 } } ] } ```