--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man created god upon his thoughts to…" description: "\"“Man created god upon his thoughts to externalize, to give form to his belief to give a reason for what they could do. The gods stole away the energies..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg" --- # Man created god upon his thoughts to externalize, to give… ![“Man created god upon his thoughts to externalize, to give form to his belief to give a reason for what they could do. The gods stole away the energies, let man believe he was ruled rather than that he rules.” quote by Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg) > ““Man created god upon his thoughts to externalize, to give form to his belief to give a reason for what they could do. The gods stole away the energies, let man believe he was ruled rather than that he rules.”” [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans project divine authority onto imagined beings, turning belief into external control, which can diminish personal agency. **In simple terms:** People create gods to externalize belief, losing sense of self‑rule. Key Takeaway Recognize personal power over belief. Themes belief authority agency psychology Mood contemplative critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - philosophical debate - spiritual practice Key Concepts projection externalization control Questions to Reflect On - How does externalizing belief affect personal responsibility? - Can you find agency within religious frameworks? A Different Perspective Belief systems can still empower individuals despite externalization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Created God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-god/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-thoughts/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Gods Stole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-stole-2284343/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-created/) [Man Created God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-created-god/) [Reason Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-gods-2284342/) ## Related quotes > [Man created God, not God, man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-garibaldi/man-created-god-not-god-man/) [Giuseppe Garibaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-garibaldi/) > [In the beginning Man created God; and in the image of Man created he him. And Man gave unto God a multitude of names,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/in-the-beginning-man-created-god-and-in-the-image-of-man-created-he-2/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [In the beginning Man created God: and in the image of Man created he him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jethro-tull/in-the-beginning-man-created-god-and-in-the-image-of-man-created-he/) [Jethro Tull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jethro-tull/) > [Man created God in his image: intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-created-god-in-his-image-intolerant-sexist-homophobic-and-violent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“On the first day, man created God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-delgado-f/on-the-first-day-man-created-god/) [Daniel Delgado F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-delgado-f/) > [Man created God in his own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/man-created-god-in-his-own-image/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“You know, dear boy, there was an old sinner in the eighteenth century who declared that, if there were no God, he would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/you-know-dear-boy-there-was-an-old-sinner-in-the-eighteenth-century/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“IN THE BEGINNING, MAN CREATED GOD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/in-the-beginning-man-created-god/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [It is not as in the Bible, that God created man in his own image. But, on the contrary, man created God in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/it-is-not-as-in-the-bible-that-god-created-man-in-his-own-image-but/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [“The pluralism of religion is attributable to the fact that man created God and not the other way around. If you accept the posture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-pluralism-of-religion-is-attributable-to-the-fact-that-man/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Men speak of God’s love for man… but if providence does not come in this hour, where is He then? My conclusion is simple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-s-fletcher/men-speak-of-god-s-love-for-man-but-if-providence-does-not-come-in/) [Daniel S. Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-s-fletcher/) > [For some suspicious reason gods always have the same traits as human tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/for-some-suspicious-reason-gods-always-have-the-same-traits-as-human/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) > [I've been an atheist since I was nine years old. And my mom is really religious, so we have a strange relationship. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarsem-singh/i-ve-been-an-atheist-since-i-was-nine-years-old-and-my-mom-is-really/) [Tarsem Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarsem-singh/) > [“It is odd that the Bible says, ‘God created man,’ whereas it is the other way round: man has created God. It is odd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-bartok/it-is-odd-that-the-bible-says-god-created-man-whereas-it-is-the-other/) [Béla Bartók](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-bartok/) > [“If man was created in God's likeness, then God must have just got rid of the trash when he threw man down onto Earth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-t-hincks/if-man-was-created-in-god-s-likeness-then-god-must-have-just-got-rid/) [Anthony T. Hincks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-t-hincks/) ## More by Thomm Quackenbush > [“Which God is the forgiving one, exactly? Old Testament, where He got His rocks off by smiting? Or New Testament, once Our Heavenly Father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/which-god-is-the-forgiving-one-exactly-old-testament-where-he-got-his/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“As a man, I was a failure. A pathetic teacher lusting after Catholic school girls in short skirts. As a monster, I'm superb. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/as-a-man-i-was-a-failure-a-pathetic-teacher-lusting-after-catholic/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“The whole concept of some stranger making his way down our chimney - not that we had one - suggested burglary more readily than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/the-whole-concept-of-some-stranger-making-his-way-down-our-chimney/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [ “Maybe \[aliens\] have been in our lives a lot longer than we want to admit. People have always seen strange things—elves and fairies—and now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/maybe-aliens-have-been-in-our-lives-a-lot-longer-than-we-want-to/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“The seed of an urban legend finding fertile soil at the corner of tragedy and imagination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/the-seed-of-an-urban-legend-finding-fertile-soil-at-the-corner-of/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“There was a charm in being reborn into the world when one was old enough to appreciate it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/there-was-a-charm-in-being-reborn-into-the-world-when-one-was-old/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“She hated anyone who clung to the supernatural when the natural was perfectly serviceable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/she-hated-anyone-who-clung-to-the-supernatural-when-the-natural-was/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“Do you want me because you love me or because I provide you normality drag?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/do-you-want-me-because-you-love-me-or-because-i-provide-you-normality/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“You got a vicious animal inside you. It wants to snap, it wants to attack, but it's harmless because some woman fitted a muzzle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/you-got-a-vicious-animal-inside-you-it-wants-to-snap-it-wants-to/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“He had not even done the fledgling courtesy of shredding open a major artery, anointing himself in the viscous gore, and desecrating her body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/he-had-not-even-done-the-fledgling-courtesy-of-shredding-open-a-major/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [ “\[T\]hese friends were of the female persuasion, and while by and large they were bi and large, they still represented potential threats on \[her\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/t-hese-friends-were-of-the-female-persuasion-and-while-by-and-large/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“She kissed him… long enough he could almost hear her thoughts. Long enough that he began to know her story, know what she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/she-kissed-him-long-enough-he-could-almost-hear-her-thoughts-long/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“Shane never knew how to address her friends' parents. She wanted to call her Mrs. Eliot's Mom, but knew that the cutesiness would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/shane-never-knew-how-to-address-her-friends-parents-she-wanted-to/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“It’s hard to stay upset over someone else’s happy ending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/it-s-hard-to-stay-upset-over-someone-else-s-happy-ending/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [“I don't think I'm being harassed by little green stalkers. I don't know what's really going on, but I'd rather try to eliminate all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/i-don-t-think-i-m-being-harassed-by-little-green-stalkers-i-don-t/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) [Explore all 190 Thomm Quackenbush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) ## 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": "“Man created god upon his thoughts to externalize, to give form to his belief to give a reason for what they could do. The gods stole away the energies, let man believe he was ruled rather than that he rules.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomm Quackenbush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-externalize-to-give-form-to-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-externalize-to-give-form-to-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/thomm-quackenbush-2029_belief_man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-ext_1832409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man created god upon his thoughts to externalize, to give form to his belief to give a reason for what they…” — Thomm Quackenbush", "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": "Thomm Quackenbush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Man created god upon his thoughts...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-externalize-to-give-form-to-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/man-created-god-upon-his-thoughts-to-externalize-to-give-form-to-his/#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 } } ] } ```