---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I see throughout this book, called…"
description: "\"When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a history of the grossest vices and a collection of the most paltry and contemptible tales and stori..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png"
---

#  When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a…

![“When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a history of the grossest vices and a collection of the most paltry and contemptible tales and stories, I could not so dishonor my Creator by calling it by His name.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png)

> “When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a history of the grossest vices and a collection of the most paltry and contemptible tales and stories, I could not so dishonor my Creator by calling it by His name.”

[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.

The Bible contains many immoral stories, so calling it by its sacred name feels disrespectful to its creator.

**In simple terms:** Questioning sacred texts can feel disrespectful.

Key Takeaway

Critically assess revered works.

Themes

skepticism religion integrity

Mood

critical thought‑provoking

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- academic study
- personal belief
- ethical debate
- historical analysis

Key Concepts

critical thinking theology

Questions to Reflect On

- What balances reverence and critique?
- How do you handle sacred contradictions?

A Different Perspective

Respect for tradition may conflict with honest critique.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Dishonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonor/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/)

## Related quotes

> [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/)

> [As to the book called the bible, it is blasphemy to call it the Word of God. It is a book of lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/as-to-the-book-called-the-bible-it-is-blasphemy-to-call-it-the-word/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [The Book of Job and the 19th Psalm, which even the Church admits to be more ancient than the chronological order in which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-of-job-and-the-19th-psalm-which-even-the-church-admits-to-be/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [At age 14, my belief systems began to change about myself, about God, about humans, about values, and about moral standards. I also began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/at-age-14-my-belief-systems-began-to-change-about-myself-about-god/)

[Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/)

> [ To me \[Christianity\] was all nonsense based on that profane compilation of fables called the Bible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haywood/to-me-christianity-was-all-nonsense-based-on-that-profane-compilation/)

[Bill Haywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haywood/)

> [The book, called the Bible, is filled with passages equally horrible, unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in schools in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-book-called-the-bible-is-filled-with-passages-equally-horrible/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The number one book of the ages was written by a committee, and it was called The Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-mayer/the-number-one-book-of-the-ages-was-written-by-a-committee-and-it-was/)

[Louis B. Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-mayer/)

> [I would not dare so dishonor my Creator's name by attaching it to this filthy book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/i-would-not-dare-so-dishonor-my-creator-s-name-by-attaching-it-to/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Teaching people to become like Jesus, outside of the power of Jesus, dishonors Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-stetzer/teaching-people-to-become-like-jesus-outside-of-the-power-of-jesus/)

[Ed Stetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-stetzer/)

> [Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/fellow-citizens-we-cannot-escape-history-we-of-this-congress-and-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Death Before Dishonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-hood/death-before-dishonor/)

[Ace Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-hood/)

> [“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-man-he-doth-bestride-the-narrow-world-like-a-colossus-and-we/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I wrote what I did because as a woman, as a mother, I was oppressed and broken-hearted with the sorrows and injustice I saw,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/i-wrote-what-i-did-because-as-a-woman-as-a-mother-i-was-oppressed-and/)

[Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/)

> [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [We adorn graves with flowers and redolent plants, just emblems of the life of man, which has been compared in the Holy Scriptures to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-evelyn/we-adorn-graves-with-flowers-and-redolent-plants-just-emblems-of-the/)

[John Evelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-evelyn/)

## 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. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

[Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

## More Bible quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/)

Michael Arnold

> [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/)

[Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/)

> [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/)

Robert A. Peterson

> [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/)

Stephen Taylor

> [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/)

Walsham How

> [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/)

[Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/)

> [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/)

[Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/)

> [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/)

[Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/)

> [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/)

[J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/)

> [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/)

[David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/)

> [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/)

[John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

[Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a history of the grossest vices and a collection of the most paltry and contemptible tales and stories, I could not so dishonor my Creator by calling it by His name.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Paine"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-the-bible-a-history-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bible"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-the-bible-a-history-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/thomas-paine-267_bible_when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-t_302226.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a history of the grossest vices and a collection of the…” — Thomas Paine",
                "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 Paine",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I see throughout this book,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-the-bible-a-history-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-the-bible-a-history-of-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
