Altars Quote by William Cowper
“In man or woman, but far most in man, And most of all in man that ministers, And serves the altar, in my soul I loathe All affectation. 'Tis my perfect scorn: Object of my implacable disgust.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Task” by William Cowper, 1785
The speaker despises vanity and pretentiousness, especially in religious service, valuing sincere humility
In simple terms: Reject vanity in favor of sincere humility
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic humility in service
Themes
humility
critique of pretension
spiritual integrity
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- religious leadership
- personal ethics
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Moral integrity
self‑reflection
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humility affect leadership?
- When is critique of pretension appropriate?
A Different Perspective
Absolute rejection may overlook constructive aspects of tradition
