Sacrilegious Quote by William Dean
““First, any term applied to God is only ana analogy; when this is forgotten, any God-defining term is sacrilegious.””
About This Quote
The quote warns that human language cannot fully capture the divine; using analogies risks disrespect when taken literally.
In simple terms: Human language is limited for describing God.
Use humility when speaking about the divine.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- religious discourse
- academic writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you convey reverence without limiting the divine?
- When is metaphor appropriate in theology?
Analogies can still be useful if clearly marked as metaphorical.