--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A large section of the idling classes of…" description: "\"A large section of the idling classes of England get their incomes by believing that Jesus was born of a virgin and that Jonah swallowed a whale; and w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/upton-sinclair-4341_belief_a-large-section-of-the-idling-classes-of_3156424.jpg" --- # A large section of the idling classes of England get their… ![“A large section of the idling classes of England get their incomes by believing that Jesus was born of a virgin and that Jonah swallowed a whale; and with the progress of science they were naturally finding this more and more difficult. A school of ingenious Bible-twisters arose, to invent…” quote by Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/upton-sinclair-4341_belief_a-large-section-of-the-idling-classes-of_3156424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/upton-sinclair-4341_belief_a-large-section-of-the-idling-classes-of_3156424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/upton-sinclair-4341_belief_a-large-section-of-the-idling-classes-of_3156424.jpg) > “A large section of the idling classes of England get their incomes by believing that Jesus was born of a virgin and that Jonah swallowed a whale; and with the progress of science they were naturally finding this more and more difficult. A school of ingenious Bible-twisters arose, to invent symbolical and literary meanings for fairy tales, in order that people who no longer believed could continue with good conscience to collect the salaries of belief.” [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques how religious belief becomes a profession, with scholars inventing symbolic meanings to sustain belief despite scientific progress. **In simple terms:** Religion can become a career, adapting to scientific challenges. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind belief systems. Themes religion skepticism intellectual honesty Mood critical skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academia - public discourse - media analysis Key Concepts faith economics of belief Questions to Reflect On - Why do people cling to belief despite contradictory evidence? - How does economic incentive shape religious interpretation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Bible Twisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-twisters-5689079/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Incomes Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incomes-believing-5689078/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus Was Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-was-born/) [Jonah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jonah/) [Jonah Swallowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jonah-swallowed-889541/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Salary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salary/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tales/) [Twister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twister/) [Virgin Jonah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin-jonah-1889602/) [Virgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgins/) [Whales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whales/) ## Related quotes > [“ 'You... you're--' 'A virgin?' Jonah's voice cracked in the middle of that hated word. 'Holy fucking merciful Christ giving Peter a blow job.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/you-you-re-a-virgin-jonah-s-voice-cracked-in-the-middle-of-that-hated/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [The story of the whale swallowing Jonah, though a whale is large enough to do it, borders greatly on the marvelous; but it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-story-of-the-whale-swallowing-jonah-though-a-whale-is-large/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [If the Bible had said that Jonah swallowed the whale, I would believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/if-the-bible-had-said-that-jonah-swallowed-the-whale-i-would-believe/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [It's awkward doing it with anybody, but it's like Twister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/it-s-awkward-doing-it-with-anybody-but-it-s-like-twister/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [If I get clear of my debts, I care not though men call me bold, glib of tongue, audacious, impudent, shameless, a fabricator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-i-get-clear-of-my-debts-i-care-not-though-men-call-me-bold-glib-of/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [Watch very closely as the magical angel and I are swallowed by the rainbow twister, and left stranded on the glitter way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/watch-very-closely-as-the-magical-angel-and-i-are-swallowed-by-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Another day at work...I'm having as much fun as a colorblind person playing twister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/another-day-at-work-i-m-having-as-much-fun-as-a-colorblind-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hermione uses all these big long tongue twister words. I don't know what she's going on about half the time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/hermione-uses-all-these-big-long-tongue-twister-words-i-don-t-know/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [“Zane Parata,” she said, settling into the seat opposite him. “I thought you’d gotten swallowed up in a twister and settled among the indigenous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mcintyre/zane-parata-she-said-settling-into-the-seat-opposite-him-i-thought/) [Katherine McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mcintyre/) > [One man's pet-stained carpet is another man's Twister game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/one-man-s-pet-stained-carpet-is-another-man-s-twister-game/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [“Love? The Doctor Sneered. What do you know about love? I read it in the mind of this creature. He has such love for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/love-the-doctor-sneered-what-do-you-know-about-love-i-read-it-in-the/) [Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/) > [Constant repetition of tongue-twisters was like lifting weights for me, but patience and persistence have paid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-brendon/constant-repetition-of-tongue-twisters-was-like-lifting-weights-for/) [Nicholas Brendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-brendon/) > [ ...\[T\]he Constitution conferred only a few specific powers on the federal government, all others being denied to it (as the Tenth Amendment would make… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/t-he-constitution-conferred-only-a-few-specific-powers-on-the-federal/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [“A proper Indiana twister looks something like God got fed up with his spinach. God in this instance is about six years old .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/a-proper-indiana-twister-looks-something-like-god-got-fed-up-with-his/) [Brian kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“Well, you never can tell with a twister. They are as mean, as ornery, and as unpredictable as an unhappy woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-joseph-adams/well-you-never-can-tell-with-a-twister-they-are-as-mean-as-ornery-and/) [John Joseph Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-joseph-adams/) ## More by Upton Sinclair > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [You don't have to be satisfied with America as you find it. You can change it. I didn't like the way I found America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/you-don-t-have-to-be-satisfied-with-america-as-you-find-it-you-can/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“A wonderful privilege it was to be thus admitted into the soul of a man of genius, to be allowed to share the ecstasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/a-wonderful-privilege-it-was-to-be-thus-admitted-into-the-soul-of-a/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“...the souls of none of them were dead, but only sleeping; now and then they would waken, and these were cruel times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/the-souls-of-none-of-them-were-dead-but-only-sleeping-now-and-then/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“He learned that love is not all pleasure, but can be agony and heartache, martyrdom and sacrifice. He learned what the clergyman was talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/he-learned-that-love-is-not-all-pleasure-but-can-be-agony-and/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [I am sustained by a sense of the worthwhileness of what I am doing; a trust in the good faith of the process which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/i-am-sustained-by-a-sense-of-the-worthwhileness-of-what-i-am-doing-a/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“We have a flabby public opinion which would wring its hands in anguish if we took the labor leader by the scruff of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/we-have-a-flabby-public-opinion-which-would-wring-its-hands-in/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“He seemed to be growing conservative, allying himself with Göring’s friends, the great industrialists, and forgetting the promises he had made to the common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/he-seemed-to-be-growing-conservative-allying-himself-with-g-ring-s/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [The first thing brought forth by the study of any religion, ancient or modern, is that it is based upon Fear, born of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/the-first-thing-brought-forth-by-the-study-of-any-religion-ancient-or/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [American journalism is a class institution, serving the rich and spurning the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/american-journalism-is-a-class-institution-serving-the-rich-and/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“Now I ask you: could any muck-raker in a rage make up a list of titles more completely expressive of vulgarity, commercialism and general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/now-i-ask-you-could-any-muck-raker-in-a-rage-make-up-a-list-of-titles/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“In that country, rich or poor, a man was free... So America was a place of which lovers and young people dreamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/in-that-country-rich-or-poor-a-man-was-free-so-america-was-a-place-of/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“Study and think and improve your mind, and keep it clear of all this fog of hatred and propaganda”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/study-and-think-and-improve-your-mind-and-keep-it-clear-of-all-this/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [The private control of credit is the modern form of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/the-private-control-of-credit-is-the-modern-form-of-slavery/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“When one comes to the ultra-modern profession of advertising," responded Schliemann—"the science of persuading people to buy what they do not want—he is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/when-one-comes-to-the-ultra-modern-profession-of-advertising/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) [Explore all 112 Upton Sinclair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) ## 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": "A large section of the idling classes of England get their incomes by believing that Jesus was born of a virgin and that Jonah swallowed a whale; and with the progress of science they were naturally finding this more and more difficult. 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