--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All... religions show the same disparity…" description: "\"All... religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest. Test each sect by its best or..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_belief_all-religions-show-the-same-disparity-be_846167.jpg" --- # All... religions show the same disparity between belief… ![“All... religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest. Test each sect by its best or its worst as you will, by its high-water mark of virtue or its low-water mark of vice. But falsehood begins when you measure the ebb of any other…” quote by Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_belief_all-religions-show-the-same-disparity-be_846167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_belief_all-religions-show-the-same-disparity-be_846167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/thomas-wentworth-higginson-177_belief_all-religions-show-the-same-disparity-be_846167.jpg) > “All... religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest. Test each sect by its best or its worst as you will, by its high-water mark of virtue or its low-water mark of vice. But falsehood begins when you measure the ebb of any other religion against the flood-tide of your own. There is a noble and a base side to every history.” [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religions often claim moral superiority yet act inconsistently; judging them by extremes reveals both virtue and vice. **In simple terms:** Religions can be both good and bad. Key Takeaway Judge actions, not labels. Themes religion hypocrisy morality pluralism Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - policy making - interfaith initiatives - education curricula - media representation Key Concepts ethical relativism social cohesion interfaith dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster respect while critiquing harmful doctrines? - What criteria should we use to assess religious institutions? A Different Perspective Simplifying religions to good or bad ignores nuanced beliefs and practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Disparity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disparity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Sects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sects/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [All... religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-religions-show-the-same-disparity-between-belief-and-practice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Belief without any practice is of no use to us. But there are two sides to religious practice: one is the ritualistic, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/belief-without-any-practice-is-of-no-use-to-us-but-there-are-two/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [The Way of Liberation is not a belief system; it is something to be put into practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-way-of-liberation-is-not-a-belief-system-it-is-something-to-be/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [It was better walk with dignity than ride in shame. A lot of people in Cincinnati are saying, "Rather than have the continual problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/it-was-better-walk-with-dignity-than-ride-in-shame-a-lot-of-people-in/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [There'll be a growing disparity between economics and politics. An economy that grows so rapidly is intractably global. On the other hand, the current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/there-ll-be-a-growing-disparity-between-economics-and-politics-an/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [Those close to Mr. Obama say he grows irritated at being misunderstood - not just by opponents who insinuate that he caters to African-Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-kantor/those-close-to-mr-obama-say-he-grows-irritated-at-being-misunderstood/) [Jodi Kantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-kantor/) > [Behavior must also be adequately assessed under appropriate circumstances. Ill-defined global measures of perceived self-efficacy or defective assessments of performance will yield discordances. Disparities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/behavior-must-also-be-adequately-assessed-under-appropriate/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [The greatest single challenge facing our globalised world is to combat and eradicate its disparities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-greatest-single-challenge-facing-our-globalised-world-is-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I'm interested in illuminating the enormous disparity between vast poverty and the tiny upper class... This vast inequity is unfair by definition, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-mcdonell/i-m-interested-in-illuminating-the-enormous-disparity-between-vast/) [Nick McDonell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-mcdonell/) > [The evil of the actual disparity in their ages (and Mr. Woodhouse had not married early) was much increased by his constitution and habits;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-evil-of-the-actual-disparity-in-their-ages-and-mr-woodhouse-had/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Social mobility decreased under Labour and under the current government it is reversing. The differences between the poorest and richest are returning to Victorian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-trigell/social-mobility-decreased-under-labour-and-under-the-current/) [Jonathan Trigell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-trigell/) > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Thomas Wentworth Higginson > [Genius is lonely without the surrounding presence of a people to inspire it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/genius-is-lonely-without-the-surrounding-presence-of-a-people-to/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [In ancient Boeotia brides were carried home in vehicles whose wheels were burned at the door, in token, that they would never again be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/in-ancient-boeotia-brides-were-carried-home-in-vehicles-whose-wheels/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [But days even earlier than these, in April, have a charm, — even days that seem raw and rainy, when the sky is dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/but-days-even-earlier-than-these-in-april-have-a-charm-even-days-that/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [Travelers find virtue in a seeming minority in all other countries, and forget that they have left it in a minority at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/travelers-find-virtue-in-a-seeming-minority-in-all-other-countries/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [The coarsest father gains a new impulse to labor from the moment of his baby's birth; he scarcely sees it when awake, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/the-coarsest-father-gains-a-new-impulse-to-labor-from-the-moment-of/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [Do not waste a minute - not a second - in trying to demonstrate to others the merits of your performance. If your work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/do-not-waste-a-minute-not-a-second-in-trying-to-demonstrate-to-others/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [Many persons sigh for death when it seems far off, but the inclination vanishes when the boat upsets, or the locomotive runs off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/many-persons-sigh-for-death-when-it-seems-far-off-but-the-inclination/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [The Englishman's strong point is his vigorous insularity; that of the American his power of adaptation. Each of these attitudes has its perils. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/the-englishman-s-strong-point-is-his-vigorous-insularity-that-of-the/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [In an audience of rough people a generous sentiment always brings down the house. In the tumult of war both sides applaud a heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/in-an-audience-of-rough-people-a-generous-sentiment-always-brings/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [There is certainly no defence or water -proof garment against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-is-certainly-no-defence-or-water-proof-garment-against-adverse/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [There are no days in the whole round year more delicious than those which often come to us in the latter half of April...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/there-are-no-days-in-the-whole-round-year-more-delicious-than-those/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [As the spring comes on, and the densening outlines of the elm give daily a new design for a Grecian urn, — its hue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/as-the-spring-comes-on-and-the-densening-outlines-of-the-elm-give/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/how-many-lessons-of-faith-and-beauty-we-should-lose-if-there-were-no/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [How much that the world calls selfishness is only generosity with narrow walls,--a too exclusive solicitude to maintain a wife in luxury, or make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/how-much-that-the-world-calls-selfishness-is-only-generosity-with/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) > [An easy thing, O Power Divine, To thank thee for these gifts of Thine, For summer's sunshine, winter's snow, For hearts that kindle thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-higginson/an-easy-thing-o-power-divine-to-thank-thee-for-these-gifts-of-thine/) [Thomas Wentworth Higginson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) [Explore all 36 Thomas Wentworth Higginson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-higginson/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All... religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest. Test each sect by its best or its worst as you will, by its high-water mark of virtue or its low-water mark of vice. 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