Agnostic Quote by Thomas Paine
“Practical religion consists in doing good: and the only way of serving God is that of endeavoring to make His creation happy. All preaching that has not this for its object is nonsense and hypocrisy.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Age of Reason, 1794
Religion should manifest as tangible good deeds; preaching without action is empty.
In simple terms: Religion = good deeds.
Key Takeaway
Focus on compassionate action.
Themes
religion
ethics
service
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- volunteering
- community service
- charitable work
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
humanitarianism
faith practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How can faith inspire action?
- What role does ritual play for you?
A Different Perspective
Some find comfort in ritual beyond deeds.
![“[Not parroting.] My old Master used to say, "It is all very good to teach the parrot to say, 'Lord, Lord, Lord' all the time; but let the cat come and take hold of its neck, it forgets all about it" [You may] pray all the time, read all the scriptures in the world, and worship all the gods there…” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa5/swami-vivekananda-53_argumentation_not-parroting-my-old-master-used-to-say_1463100.jpg)
