--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Holy Church occasionally hinted that…" description: "\"When Holy Church occasionally hinted that she still considered her authority to be supreme over all nations and superior to the authority of states, me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_authority_when-holy-church-occasionally-hinted-tha_1811115.jpg" --- # When Holy Church occasionally hinted that she still… ![“When Holy Church occasionally hinted that she still considered her authority to be supreme over all nations and superior to the authority of states, men in these times tended to snicker.” quote by Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_authority_when-holy-church-occasionally-hinted-tha_1811115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_authority_when-holy-church-occasionally-hinted-tha_1811115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/walter-m-miller-jr-2-25556_authority_when-holy-church-occasionally-hinted-tha_1811115.jpg) > “When Holy Church occasionally hinted that she still considered her authority to be supreme over all nations and superior to the authority of states, men in these times tended to snicker.” [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Church sometimes claimed supreme authority over nations, but contemporary observers mocked this claim. **In simple terms:** Church claimed supreme authority; people mocked it. Key Takeaway Question authority claims critically. Themes authority religion politics humor Mood skeptical ironic Type historical political When to use this quote - historical analysis - modern political discourse Key Concepts supremacy secularism skepticism Questions to Reflect On - How does religious authority affect modern politics? - When is mockery an effective response? A Different Perspective Religious claims often clash with secular governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It is my fate to be considered an authority, since I spent my youth rebelling against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/it-is-my-fate-to-be-considered-an-authority-since-i-spent-my-youth/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [One thing is clear - demons know they must submit to the superior authority in the name of Jesus Christ!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/one-thing-is-clear-demons-know-they-must-submit-to-the-superior/) [T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/) > [The authority of the Supreme Court must not be permitted to control the Congress or the Executive when acting in their legislative capacities, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/the-authority-of-the-supreme-court-must-not-be-permitted-to-control/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [There's no such thing as a diet Snickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-diet-snickers/) [Rev. Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run/) > [Jeb Bush cheated on his diet and had a fried Snickers bar, pork on a stick, and a beer. Jeb Bush said he ate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/jeb-bush-cheated-on-his-diet-and-had-a-fried-snickers-bar-pork-on-a/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Dude. Post-apocalyptic world. 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I know you might snicker at that, but it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-more-people-that-are-out-of-work-the-better-for-the-democrat/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“As there was no saddle, Lisa said to the horse, “May I pull myself up?” And damned if the horse didn’t nod.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kessler/as-there-was-no-saddle-lisa-said-to-the-horse-may-i-pull-myself-up/) [Jackie Kessler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kessler/) > [I can't say I don't like acting, but I can't imagine a career when I have to spend 70 percent of my time in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-can-t-say-i-don-t-like-acting-but-i-can-t-imagine-a-career-when-i/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Jabs are the lightweight pieces of content that benefit your customers by making them laugh, snicker, ponder, play a game, feel appreciated, or escape;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/jabs-are-the-lightweight-pieces-of-content-that-benefit-your/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [Everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Jon Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sanchez/everybody-who-runs-cnn-is-a-lot-like-jon-stewart-and-a-lot-of-people/) [Rick Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sanchez/) ## More by Walter M. Miller, Jr > [The wild black scavengers of the skies laid their eggs in season and lovingly fed their young. They soared high over prairies and mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-wild-black-scavengers-of-the-skies-laid-their-eggs-in-season-and/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > […to abuse the intellect for reasons of pride, vanity, or escape from responsibility, is the fruit of that same tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/to-abuse-the-intellect-for-reasons-of-pride-vanity-or-escape-from/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Because a doubt is not a denial. Doubt is a powerful tool, and it should be applied to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/because-a-doubt-is-not-a-denial-doubt-is-a-powerful-tool-and-it/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [The trouble with being a priest was that you eventually had to take the advice you gave to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-trouble-with-being-a-priest-was-that-you-eventually-had-to-take/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [The captain looked defensive. "You regard our customs as primitive?"Every society to its own tastes, captain. The wisdom of one society would be folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/the-captain-looked-defensive-you-regard-our-customs-as-primitive/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [What's to be believed? Or does it matter at all? When mass murder's been answered with mass murder, rape with rape, hate with hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/what-s-to-be-believed-or-does-it-matter-at-all-when-mass-murder-s-2/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [That's where all of us are standing now, he thought. On the fat kindling of past sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/that-s-where-all-of-us-are-standing-now-he-thought-on-the-fat-2/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [It is said that water is for cattle and farmers, that milk is for children and blood for men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/it-is-said-that-water-is-for-cattle-and-farmers-that-milk-is-for/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [But neither infinite power nor infinite wisdom could bestow godhood upon men. For that there would have to be infinite love as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/but-neither-infinite-power-nor-infinite-wisdom-could-bestow-godhood/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Men must fumble awhile with error to separate it from truth, I think- as long as they don't seize the error hungrily because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/men-must-fumble-awhile-with-error-to-separate-it-from-truth-i-think/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Ask for an omen, then stone it when it comes -- de essentia hominum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/ask-for-an-omen-then-stone-it-when-it-comes-de-essentia-hominum/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [One should be embarrassed to speak of God in the third person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/one-should-be-embarrassed-to-speak-of-god-in-the-third-person/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Soon the sun will set'- is that prophecy? No, it's merely an assertion of faith in the consistency of events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/soon-the-sun-will-set-is-that-prophecy-no-it-s-merely-an-assertion-of/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [Listen, my dear Cors, why don't you forgive God for allowing pain? If He didn't allow it, human courage, bravery, nobility, and self-sacrifice would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/listen-my-dear-cors-why-don-t-you-forgive-god-for-allowing-pain-if-he/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) > [I'm not so sure he's mad, Father. Just a little devious in his sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr-2/i-m-not-so-sure-he-s-mad-father-just-a-little-devious-in-his-sanity/) [Walter M. Miller, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) [Explore all 23 Walter M. Miller, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr-2/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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