Allegorical-interpretation Quote by Thomas Henry Huxley
““In order to get over the ethical difficulties presented by the naive naturalism of many parts of those Scriptures, in the divine authority of which he firmly believed, Philo borrowed from the Stoics (who had been in like straits in respect of Greek mythology), that great Excalibur which they had forged with infinite pains and skill—the method of allegorical interpretation. This mighty 'two-handed engine at the door' of the theologian is warranted to make a speedy end of any and every moral or intellectual difficulty, by showing that, taken allegorically or, as it is otherwise said, 'poetically' or, 'in a spiritual sense,' the plainest words mean whatever a pious interpreter desires they should mean.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays on Evolution by Thomas Henry Huxley, 1865
Allegorical interpretation lets theologians reinterpret difficult scriptural passages as symbolic, easing moral and intellectual conflicts.
In simple terms: Using symbols to soften hard truths.
Key Takeaway
Apply allegory to resolve contradictions.
Themes
theology
interpretation
ethics
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- religious study
- ethical debates
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Stoicism
allegory
hermeneutics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does symbolism affect belief?
- When is allegory appropriate?
A Different Perspective
Allegory may obscure literal truth and be misused.
