---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er…"
description: "\"“The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, C..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png"
---

#  The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help…

![“The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb.” quote by William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png)

> ““The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb.””

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

## 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 seeks to abandon false idols and devote themselves wholly to God, finding peace and purity.

**In simple terms:** Abandon false idols for divine devotion.

Key Takeaway

Seek spiritual focus.

Themes

faith idolatry purity

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

spiritual poetic

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- religious practice
- ethical living

Key Concepts

spiritual surrender inner peace

Questions to Reflect On

- What idols dominate your life?
- How can you replace them with higher purpose?

A Different Perspective

Human temptation to idolize persists.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Idols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idols/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/)

## Related quotes

> [“Aoram dhuit,” he breathes. “I will worship thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/aoram-dhuit-he-breathes-i-will-worship-thee/)

[Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/)

> [Sometimes I go to God and say, "God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-go-to-god-and-say-god-if-thou-dost-never-answer-another/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crossway/9and-whenever-the-living-creatures-give-glory-and-honor-and-thanks-to/)

Crossway

> [It’s easy: You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your allegiance. At the end of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/it-s-easy-you-simply-follow-the-trail-of-your-time-your-affection/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [In His discourses, His miracles, His parables, His sufferings, His resurrection, He gradually raises the pedestal of His humanity before the world, but under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thomson/in-his-discourses-his-miracles-his-parables-his-sufferings-his/)

[Edward Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thomson/)

> [I think American Idol is a great career launcher. A blessing for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-london/i-think-american-idol-is-a-great-career-launcher-a-blessing-for-all/)

[LaToya London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-london/)

> [You're still my idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/you-re-still-my-idol/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

> [Someone like Billie Jean King is completely my idol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/someone-like-billie-jean-king-is-completely-my-idol/)

[Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/)

> [American Idol allowed us to find Carrie Underwood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/american-idol-allowed-us-to-find-carrie-underwood/)

[Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/)

> [Since we launched the original 'Pop Idol' in England, I've remained close with Simon Fuller. Working as executive producer on 'American idol' for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/since-we-launched-the-original-pop-idol-in-england-i-ve-remained/)

[Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/)

> [My idol was always Romario. He was playing in Holland at the time and I loved him. His skills, technique, I loved him he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-van-der-vaart/my-idol-was-always-romario-he-was-playing-in-holland-at-the-time-and/)

[Rafael van der Vaart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-van-der-vaart/)

> [The Pope is an idol whose hands are tied and whose feet are kissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-pope-is-an-idol-whose-hands-are-tied-and-whose-feet-are-kissed/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [“Idolatry is not the use of images, but confusing them with what they represent, and in this respect mental images and lofty abstractions can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/idolatry-is-not-the-use-of-images-but-confusing-them-with-what-they/)

[Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/)

> [We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/we-think-that-idols-are-bad-things-but-that-is-almost-never-the-case/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [“‎A careful reading of the Old and New Testaments shows that idolatry is nothing like the crude picture that springs to mind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-keyes/a-careful-reading-of-the-old-and-new-testaments-shows-that-idolatry/)

Richard Keyes

## More by William Cowper

> [And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/and-hast-thou-sworn-on-every-slight-pretence-till-perjuries-are/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [No wild enthusiast could rest, till half the world like him was possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/no-wild-enthusiast-could-rest-till-half-the-world-like-him-was/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [“The good we never miss we rarely prize”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-good-we-never-miss-we-rarely-prize/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [Thus happiness depends, as nature shows, less on exterior things than most suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/thus-happiness-depends-as-nature-shows-less-on-exterior-things-than/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made, To turn a penny in the way of trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/stamps-god-s-own-name-upon-a-lie-just-made-to-turn-a-penny-in-the-way/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-oars-alone-can-ne-er-prevail-to-reach-the-distant-coast-the/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [“Nature is but a name for an effect whose cause is God"...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/nature-is-but-a-name-for-an-effect-whose-cause-is-god/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-conversation-choose-what-theme-we-may-and-chiefly-when-religion/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [Remorse, the fatal egg that pleasure laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/remorse-the-fatal-egg-that-pleasure-laid/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [“When we don't pray, we quit the fight. Prayer keeps the Christian's armor bright. And Satan trembles when he sees. The weakest saint upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/when-we-don-t-pray-we-quit-the-fight-prayer-keeps-the-christian-s/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [But animated nature sweeter still, to soothe and satisfy the human ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/but-animated-nature-sweeter-still-to-soothe-and-satisfy-the-human-ear/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/a-fretful-temper-will-divide-the-closest-knot-that-may-be-tied-by/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [Ten thousand casks, Forever dribbling out their base contents, Touch'd by the Midas finger of the state, Bleed gold for ministers to sport away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/ten-thousand-casks-forever-dribbling-out-their-base-contents-touch-d/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [The art of poetry is to touch the passions, and its duty to lead them on the side of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-art-of-poetry-is-to-touch-the-passions-and-its-duty-to-lead-them/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

[Explore all 371 William Cowper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

## More God quotes

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/)

[Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [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/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

[Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Cowper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-that-idol-be-help-me-to-tear/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "God"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-that-idol-be-help-me-to-tear/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cf/william-cowper-779_god_the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-t_1229741.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, And worship only…” — William Cowper",
                "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": "William Cowper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The dearest idol I have known,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-that-idol-be-help-me-to-tear/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-dearest-idol-i-have-known-whate-er-that-idol-be-help-me-to-tear/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
