--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As to the fragments of morality that are…" description: "\"“As to the fragments of morality that are irregularly and thinly scattered in those books [the Bible], they make no part of this pretended thing, revea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/thomas-paine-267_bible_as-to-the-fragments-of-morality-that-are_964723.png" --- # As to the fragments of morality that are irregularly and… ![“As to the fragments of morality that are irregularly and thinly scattered in those books [the Bible], they make no part of this pretended thing, revealed religion. They are the natural dictates of conscience, and the bonds by which society is held together, and without which it cannot exist ; and…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/thomas-paine-267_bible_as-to-the-fragments-of-morality-that-are_964723.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/thomas-paine-267_bible_as-to-the-fragments-of-morality-that-are_964723.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/thomas-paine-267_bible_as-to-the-fragments-of-morality-that-are_964723.png) > ““As to the fragments of morality that are irregularly and thinly scattered in those books \[the Bible\], they make no part of this pretended thing, revealed religion. They are the natural dictates of conscience, and the bonds by which society is held together, and without which it cannot exist ; and are nearly the same in all religions, and in all societies. The Testament teaches nothing new upon this subject, and where it attempts to exceed, it becomes mean and ridiculous. When it is said, as in the Testament, 'If a man smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,' it is assassinating the dignity of forbearance, and sinking man into a spaniel.”” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral teachings in the Bible are presented as universal conscience rules, not unique revelations, and attempts to add new moral demands are absurd. **In simple terms:** Bible morals are seen as common sense, not special revelations. Key Takeaway Recognize shared moral foundations across cultures. Themes morality religion society conscience Mood critical analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - legal systems - interfaith dialogue - education - policy making Key Concepts universal ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - What moral principles do you consider universal? - How do religious texts influence societal norms? A Different Perspective Claims of unique religious morality can ignore common human ethics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bonds/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Forbearance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbearance/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament/) ## Related quotes > [“The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries, that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-most-detestable-wickedness-the-most-horrid-cruelties-and-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“What is it the Bible teaches us? — repine, cruelty, and murder. 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And the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/the-old-testament-teaches-us-that-if-we-humble-ourselves-and-pray-god/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [The fruit of patience in all its aspects - long-suffering, forbearance, endurance, and perseverance - is a fruit that is most intimately associated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-fruit-of-patience-in-all-its-aspects-long-suffering-forbearance/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Forbearance and silence are from the signs of learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail/forbearance-and-silence-are-from-the-signs-of-learning/) [Ismail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail/) > [Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/patience-is-a-conquering-virtue-the-learned-say-that-if-it-not-desert/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. To understand it well, both parties and all the circumstances must be fully heard; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-constitute-a-dispute-there-must-be-two-parties-to-understand-it/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The tree can teach you forbearance and tolerance. It offers shade to all, irrespective of age, sex or religion, nationality or status. It helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tree-can-teach-you-forbearance-and-tolerance-it-offers-shade-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Bush administration continues to coddle China, despite its continuing crackdown on democratic reform, its brutal subjugation of Tibet, its irresponsible export of nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-bush-administration-continues-to-coddle-china-despite-its/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [There are no whys in a person's life, and very few hows. 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Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. 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