--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but…" description: "\"The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but the bill before the House today gives us 39.\" — Tom Lantos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png" --- # The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but the bill before the… ![“The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but the bill before the House today gives us 39.” quote by Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png) > “The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but the bill before the House today gives us 39.” [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts divine law with expanding legislative proposals, suggesting moral overload. **In simple terms:** Too many rules can dilute original intent. Key Takeaway Beware of over‑regulation. Themes law morality politics Mood critical skeptical Type political commentary When to use this quote - government policy - religious discourse - public debate Key Concepts legislation ethical overload Questions to Reflect On - Are more laws always better? - How do we balance tradition and modernity? A Different Perspective The comparison may oversimplify complex legal needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Commandments House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments-house-2969820/) [Gave Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-commandments-2004970/) [Gives 39](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gives-39-2969819/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lord Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-gave-337450/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Ten commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-commandments/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [I come from a people who gave the Ten Commandments to the world. Time has come to strenghten them by three additional ones, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-bauer/i-come-from-a-people-who-gave-the-ten-commandments-to-the-world-time/) [Yehuda Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-bauer/) > [“We usually think of law leading us to gospel. And this is true—we see God’s standards, see our sin, and then see our need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/we-usually-think-of-law-leading-us-to-gospel-and-this-is-true-we-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Went to church but don't understand it, they underhanded. God gave me these commandments, the world is scandalous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/went-to-church-but-don-t-understand-it-they-underhanded-god-gave-me/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“God gave us free agency, and then gave us the commandments to keep us free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-b-demille/god-gave-us-free-agency-and-then-gave-us-the-commandments-to-keep-us/) [Cecil B. DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-b-demille/) > [If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments, they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-men-will-not-be-governed-by-the-ten-commandments-they-shall-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only way those Ten Commandments and prayer would be stripped from that Courtroom is with the force of arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fob-james/the-only-way-those-ten-commandments-and-prayer-would-be-stripped-from/) [Fob James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fob-james/) > [“Nothing is written in stone.” “The Ten Commandments are. And I think we both know that neither of us would pull off an A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayne-silvers/nothing-is-written-in-stone-the-ten-commandments-are-and-i-think-we/) [Shayne Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayne-silvers/) > [When you hear people demanding that the Ten Commandments be displayed in courtrooms and schoolrooms, always be sure to ask which set. It works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/when-you-hear-people-demanding-that-the-ten-commandments-be-displayed/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ The Law given from Sinai \[The Ten Commandments\] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-law-given-from-sinai-the-ten-commandments-was-a-civil-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“ The Ten Commandments As Interpreted by Robin Palmetier 1. Don’t lie. Unless it’s to the police. 2. Don’t cheat your customers. Robin always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/the-ten-commandments-as-interpreted-by-robin-palmetier-1-don-t-lie/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tom Lantos > [So rather than face the bitter truth, China has placed severe restrictions on the Internet and enlisted America's high-tech companies as their Internet police.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/so-rather-than-face-the-bitter-truth-china-has-placed-severe/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Despite its enormous power and wealth, China's ruling elite remains absolutely petrified that the free flow of information will undermine its political legitimacy, particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/despite-its-enormous-power-and-wealth-china-s-ruling-elite-remains/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Hezbollah's contempt for human suffering is total, as it showed once again this morning when its rockets murdered two Israeli Arab children in Nazareth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/hezbollah-s-contempt-for-human-suffering-is-total-as-it-showed-once/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Insurgents have capitalized on popular resentment and anger towards the United States and the Iraqi government to build their own political, financial and military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/insurgents-have-capitalized-on-popular-resentment-and-anger-towards/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [The leader of Iran made one of the most repugnant remarks the international community has heard since Adolf Hitler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-leader-of-iran-made-one-of-the-most-repugnant-remarks-the/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [40 percent of North Korean children suffer from stunted growth. 20 percent are underweight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/40-percent-of-north-korean-children-suffer-from-stunted-growth-20/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [The patience of the American public with dilatory diplomatic delays will be very limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-patience-of-the-american-public-with-dilatory-diplomatic-delays/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [We are optimistic, but we are optimistic in a cautious fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/we-are-optimistic-but-we-are-optimistic-in-a-cautious-fashion/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Let me start with Yahoo. As we meet today, a Chinese citizen who had the courage to speak his mind on the Internet is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/let-me-start-with-yahoo-as-we-meet-today-a-chinese-citizen-who-had/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [On July 18, we will mark the 12th anniversary of the senseless loss of 85 lives in the bombing of the Jewish Cultural Center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/on-july-18-we-will-mark-the-12th-anniversary-of-the-senseless-loss-of/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [The Chinese leadership hoped that the world would soon forget the Tiananmen Square massacre. Our job in Congress is to ensure that we never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-chinese-leadership-hoped-that-the-world-would-soon-forget-the/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [A stable Iraq at peace with its neighbors will remain elusive until we improve both the security and the economic environment in Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/a-stable-iraq-at-peace-with-its-neighbors-will-remain-elusive-until/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Google, Microsoft and Yahoo should be developing new technologies to bypass government sensors and barriers to the Internet; but instead, they agreed to guard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/google-microsoft-and-yahoo-should-be-developing-new-technologies-to/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Europe was not as outraged by Auschwitz as by Guantanamo Bay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/europe-was-not-as-outraged-by-auschwitz-as-by-guantanamo-bay/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) > [Our resolution urges all Latin American and Caribbean countries to designate al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/our-resolution-urges-all-latin-american-and-caribbean-countries-to/) [Tom Lantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) [Explore all 19 Tom Lantos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/) ## More Commandments quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [“You do not need commandments to tell you what is right and wrong, you need reason. YOU NEED TO THINK. What are the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kassandra-dick/you-do-not-need-commandments-to-tell-you-what-is-right-and-wrong-you/) [Kassandra Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kassandra-dick/) > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In tantra we don't believe in commandments. We believe in the moment and the truth that is applicable for that moment, as best we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-tantra-we-don-t-believe-in-commandments-we-believe-in-the-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [ “the precepts of an absolutely perfect life, since they are the same in each Testament, have pointed out \[to us\] the same God, who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-precepts-of-an-absolutely-perfect-life-since-they-are-the-same-in/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/) [Thomas Morell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-morell/) > [“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-fortner/take-care-lest-you-forget-the-lord-your-god-by-not-keeping-his/) [Michael D. Fortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-fortner/) [Browse all 726 Commandments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but the bill before the House today gives us 39.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Lantos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-the-bill-before-the-house-today/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commandments" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-the-bill-before-the-house-today/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/tom-lantos-28936_commandments_the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-th_1112555.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Lord gave us Ten Commandments, but the bill before the House today gives us 39.” — Tom Lantos", "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": "Tom Lantos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lantos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Lord gave us Ten Commandments,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-the-bill-before-the-house-today/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lantos/the-lord-gave-us-ten-commandments-but-the-bill-before-the-house-today/#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 } } ] } ```