--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot suppose therefore that God has…" description: "\"We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for the sole purpose of being used as beasts, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg" --- # We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of… ![“We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for the sole purpose of being used as beasts, or instruments of labour.” quote by Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg) > “We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for the sole purpose of being used as beasts, or instruments of labour.” [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans should not be reduced to mere tools for labor; moral worth exceeds functional utility. **In simple terms:** People aren't just labor tools. Key Takeaway Respect inherent dignity. Themes ethics human rights animal welfare Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - activism - policy making - education - personal conduct Key Concepts moral philosophy utilitarianism Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance utility with respect? - What responsibilities arise from recognizing dignity? A Different Perspective Treating beings as tools ignores their intrinsic value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beasts/) [Beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings/) [Beings Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-mental-4501727/) [God Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-order-1287445/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Order Beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-beings-4501726/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Sole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sole/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [“This little man was of the order of beings who must not be opposed, unless you possessed an all-dominant force sufficient to crush him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/this-little-man-was-of-the-order-of-beings-who-must-not-be-opposed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [It is the perfection of God's works that they are all done with the greatest simplicity. He is the God of order and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/it-is-the-perfection-of-god-s-works-that-they-are-all-done-with-the/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [God is the only being who, in order to reign, doesn't even need to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/god-is-the-only-being-who-in-order-to-reign-doesn-t-even-need-to-exist/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Every man has been made by God in order to acquire knowledge and contemplate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/every-man-has-been-made-by-god-in-order-to-acquire-knowledge-and/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Respectable society believed in God in order to avoid having to speak about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/respectable-society-believed-in-god-in-order-to-avoid-having-to-speak/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“Nothing in this world is able to explain its own existence; thus, there must be a God in order to explain the world in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kumar/nothing-in-this-world-is-able-to-explain-its-own-existence-thus-there/) [Steve Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kumar/) > [Seek first the Kingdom of God: that is, the first order of business is to transform one's own inner life, not the accumulation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-caputo/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god-that-is-the-first-order-of-business-is/) [John D. Caputo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-caputo/) > [“The wolf eats the lamb; the strong eats the weak. This is not God’s Order, because it lacks justice, ethics and goodness. This chaotic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-wolf-eats-the-lamb-the-strong-eats-the-weak-this-is-not-god-s/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You have to be at the appointed place where God wants to lead your life. God will order your steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-be-at-the-appointed-place-where-god-wants-to-lead-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The kingdom of God is an order of government established by divine authority. It is the only legal government that can exist in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-pratt/the-kingdom-of-god-is-an-order-of-government-established-by-divine/) [Orson Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-pratt/) > [“I've known humans, and I know beasts. The beast is better. It is unpretentious. It kills for food. Humans do 'cause they're just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakeer-ishavardas/i-ve-known-humans-and-i-know-beasts-the-beast-is-better-it-is/) [Fakeer Ishavardas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fakeer-ishavardas/) > [“Beasts abstract not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/beasts-abstract-not/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/nature-teaches-beasts-to-know-their-friends/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/i-am-writing-to-all-the-churches-to-let-it-be-known-that-i-will/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) ## More by Thomas Clarkson > [Mankind have their local attachments. They have a particular regard for the spot, in which they were born and nurtured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/mankind-have-their-local-attachments-they-have-a-particular-regard/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) > [When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of-government-it-is-probable/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) > [Most of the slaves, who were thus unconditionally freed, returned without any solicitation to their former masters, to serve them, at stated wages; as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/most-of-the-slaves-who-were-thus-unconditionally-freed-returned/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) > [There are few retreats, that can escape the penetrating eye of avarice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/there-are-few-retreats-that-can-escape-the-penetrating-eye-of-avarice/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) > [It appears first, that liberty is a natural, and government an adventitious right, because all men were originally free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/it-appears-first-that-liberty-is-a-natural-and-government-an/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) > [Neither can men, by the same principles, be considered as lands, goods, or houses, among possessions. It is necessary that all property should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/neither-can-men-by-the-same-principles-be-considered-as-lands-goods/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) > [Should slavery be abolished there, (and it is an event, which, from these circumstances, we may reasonably expect to be produced in time) let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/should-slavery-be-abolished-there-and-it-is-an-event-which-from-these/) [Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) [Explore all 8 Thomas Clarkson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/) ## More Beasts quotes > [I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/i-am-writing-to-all-the-churches-to-let-it-be-known-that-i-will/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/nature-teaches-beasts-to-know-their-friends/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Beasts abstract not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/beasts-abstract-not/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“I've known humans, and I know beasts. The beast is better. It is unpretentious. It kills for food. Humans do 'cause they're just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakeer-ishavardas/i-ve-known-humans-and-i-know-beasts-the-beast-is-better-it-is/) [Fakeer Ishavardas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fakeer-ishavardas/) > [“Because even if we're strange and Cursed and Beasts, the people Above are monsters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-bobet/because-even-if-we-re-strange-and-cursed-and-beasts-the-people-above/) [Leah Bobet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-bobet/) > [Of all animals, the outward form of the Lion is the most striking ; his look is bold and confident; his gait proud; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pinnock/of-all-animals-the-outward-form-of-the-lion-is-the-most-striking-his/) [William Pinnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pinnock/) > [I thought the Invalids were beasts; I thought they would rip me apart. But these people saved me, and gave me the softest place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-thought-the-invalids-were-beasts-i-thought-they-would-rip-me-apart/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [The commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-commonwealth-of-athens-is-become-a-forest-of-beasts/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Mankind is poised midway between the gods and the beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plotinus/mankind-is-poised-midway-between-the-gods-and-the-beasts/) [Plotinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plotinus/) > [“Love is the king of the beasts And when it gets hungry it must kill to eat Love is the king of the beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/love-is-the-king-of-the-beasts-and-when-it-gets-hungry-it-must-kill/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [“The Kingdom of the Lion THE BEASTS of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-kingdom-of-the-lion-the-beasts-of-the-field-and-forest-had-a-lion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every two weeks, a language dies. The world is diminished when it loses its human sayings, just as when it loses its diversity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/every-two-weeks-a-language-dies-the-world-is-diminished-when-it-loses/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“Men were beasts. Everyone knew that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/men-were-beasts-everyone-knew-that/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [When among wild beasts, if they menace you, be a wild beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/when-among-wild-beasts-if-they-menace-you-be-a-wild-beast/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Browse all 189 Beasts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beasts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for the sole purpose of being used as beasts, or instruments of labour.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Clarkson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has-made-an-order-of-beings-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beasts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has-made-an-order-of-beings-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da9/thomas-clarkson-46106_beasts_we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has_1336615.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for…” — Thomas Clarkson", "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 Clarkson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We cannot suppose therefore that God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has-made-an-order-of-beings-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has-made-an-order-of-beings-with/#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 } } ] } ```