--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Masonry, according to the general…" description: "\"Masonry, according to the general acceptation of the term, is an art founded on the principles of geometry, and devoted to the service and convenience ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg" --- # Masonry, according to the general acceptation of the term… ![“Masonry, according to the general acceptation of the term, is an art founded on the principles of geometry, and devoted to the service and convenience of mankind. But Freemasonry, embracing a wider range and having a nobler object in view, namely, the cultivation and improvement of the human mind…” quote by William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg) > “Masonry, according to the general acceptation of the term, is an art founded on the principles of geometry, and devoted to the service and convenience of mankind. But Freemasonry, embracing a wider range and having a nobler object in view, namely, the cultivation and improvement of the human mind, may with more propriety be called a science, inasmuch as, availing itself of the terms of the former, it inculcates the principles of the purest morality, though its lessons are for the most part veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.” [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freemasonry blends artistic symbolism with scientific rigor to teach moral principles and improve humanity. **In simple terms:** Freemasonry uses symbols to teach morality. Key Takeaway Study its symbols to grow ethically. Themes morality symbolism education Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - ritual meetings - lecture series - personal study - community service Key Concepts allegory human development ethics Questions to Reflect On - What moral lessons can modern society learn from Freemasonry? - How can symbols be made clearer? A Different Perspective Symbolic language can be obscure, limiting accessibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Cultivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultivation/) [Freemasonry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freemasonry/) [Geometry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geometry/) [Human mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-mind/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Masonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonic/) [Masonry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masonry/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Propriety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propriety/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) ## Related quotes > [The real secrets of Masonry are never told, not even from mouth to ear. For the real secret of Masonry is spoken to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-real-secrets-of-masonry-are-never-told-not-even-from-mouth-to-ear/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“The taste of blood and that annoying sting of a bitten tongue. Once man got the taste of blood there was no going back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/the-taste-of-blood-and-that-annoying-sting-of-a-bitten-tongue-once/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [The genius of Freemasonry is not our Masonic buildings and temples or the trappings of our organizations. It is not our great charities or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-h-claudy/the-genius-of-freemasonry-is-not-our-masonic-buildings-and-temples-or/) Carl H. Claudy > [To enlarge the sphere of social happiness is worthy of the benevolent design of a Masonic institution; and it is most fervently to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-enlarge-the-sphere-of-social-happiness-is-worthy-of-the-benevolent-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It is Satan who is the God of our planet and the only God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/it-is-satan-who-is-the-god-of-our-planet-and-the-only-god/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [“We all have to pay till the day we die, just to breathe the air and exist in this world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/we-all-have-to-pay-till-the-day-we-die-just-to-breathe-the-air-and/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [“Motivation gets you started, and inspiration keeps you going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/motivation-gets-you-started-and-inspiration-keeps-you-going/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [Lucifer represents life, though, progress, civilization, liberty, independence. Lucifer is the Logos, the Serpent, the Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/lucifer-represents-life-though-progress-civilization-liberty/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Emperor Lucifer, Master and Prince of Rebellious Spirits, I adjure thee to leave thine abode, in what-ever quarter of the world it may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-waite/emperor-lucifer-master-and-prince-of-rebellious-spirits-i-adjure-thee/) [A. E. Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-waite/) > [“Life as we know it is merely a dream within dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/life-as-we-know-it-is-merely-a-dream-within-dreams/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [One thing and only one thing a Masonic Lodge can give its members which they can get nowhere else in the world. That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/one-thing-and-only-one-thing-a-masonic-lodge-can-give-its-members/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [What is more absurd and more impious than to attribute the name of Lucifer to the devil, that is, to personified evil. The intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/what-is-more-absurd-and-more-impious-than-to-attribute-the-name-of/) [Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General (33rd Degree Masons), we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/to-you-sovereign-grand-inspectors-general-33rd-degree-masons-we-say/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [There is no doubt in my mind that Masonry is the cornerstone of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thomas/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-that-masonry-is-the-cornerstone-of/) [Dave Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-thomas/) > [Strange and mysterious name to give to the spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/strange-and-mysterious-name-to-give-to-the-spirit-of-darkness-lucifer/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) ## More by William Howard Taft > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [What I am anxious to do is to get the best bill possible with the least amount of friction… I wish to avoid \[splitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/what-i-am-anxious-to-do-is-to-get-the-best-bill-possible-with-the/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“A National Government cannot create good times. It cannot make the rain to fall, the sun to shine, or the crops to grow, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/a-national-government-cannot-create-good-times-it-cannot-make-the/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The true Mason is the Tiler of the Temple of the Heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-true-mason-is-the-tiler-of-the-temple-of-the-heart/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [What I am anxious to do is to secure my legislation… What I want to do is to get through that, and if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/what-i-am-anxious-to-do-is-to-secure-my-legislation-what-i-want-to-do/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Lawyers are necessary in a community. Some of you...take a different view; but as I am a member of that legal profession, or was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/lawyers-are-necessary-in-a-community-some-of-you-take-a-different/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [I prefer an income tax, but the truth is I am afraid of the discussion which will follow and the criticism which will ensue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/i-prefer-an-income-tax-but-the-truth-is-i-am-afraid-of-the-discussion/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [I look forward with hope to increasing the already good feeling between the South andthe other sections of the country. My chief purpose is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/i-look-forward-with-hope-to-increasing-the-already-good-feeling/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Substantial progress toward better things can rarely be taken without developing new evils requiring new remedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/substantial-progress-toward-better-things-can-rarely-be-taken-without/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The precepts of the Gospel were universally the obligations of Masonry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-precepts-of-the-gospel-were-universally-the-obligations-of-masonry/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [We live in a stage of politics, where legislators seem to regard the passage of laws as much more important than the results of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/we-live-in-a-stage-of-politics-where-legislators-seem-to-regard-the/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Politics make me sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/politics-make-me-sick/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [I have an intense personal interest in making the use of American capital in the development of China an instrument for the promotion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/i-have-an-intense-personal-interest-in-making-the-use-of-american/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The true Mason takes full responsibility for the condition of his character and ever strives for its perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-true-mason-takes-full-responsibility-for-the-condition-of-his/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The real secrets of Masonry are never told, not even from mouth to ear. For the real secret of Masonry is spoken to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-real-secrets-of-masonry-are-never-told-not-even-from-mouth-to-ear/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) [Explore all 142 William Howard Taft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) ## More Allegory quotes > [Science fiction is a weird category, because it's the only area of fiction I can think of where the story is not of primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/science-fiction-is-a-weird-category-because-it-s-the-only-area-of/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [I think cinema is closer to allegories than to reality. It's closer to our dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/i-think-cinema-is-closer-to-allegories-than-to-reality-it-s-closer-to/) [Manuel Puig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-puig/) > [Allegories are, in the realm of thought, what ruins are in the realm of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/allegories-are-in-the-realm-of-thought-what-ruins-are-in-the-realm-of/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [A fairytale is not an allegory. There may be allegory in it, but it is not an allegory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/a-fairytale-is-not-an-allegory-there-may-be-allegory-in-it-but-it-is/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“However, as a guarantee of its renewed youth, the symbolical phoenix never reappeared before the eyes of the world without having consumed solemnly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/however-as-a-guarantee-of-its-renewed-youth-the-symbolical-phoenix/) [Éliphas Lévi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [The fumes of the most disordered imaginations were recorded in their religious code, as special communications of the Deity; and as it could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-fumes-of-the-most-disordered-imaginations-were-recorded-in-their/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [By a symbol I do not mean an allegory or a sign, but an image that describes in the best possible way the dimly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/by-a-symbol-i-do-not-mean-an-allegory-or-a-sign-but-an-image-that/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I don't feel I have to struggle against allegory. I let the readers do the interpreting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-struggle-against-allegory-i-let-the-readers-do/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [“Hence all original religions are allegorical, or susceptible of allegory, and, like Janus, have a double face of false and true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/hence-all-original-religions-are-allegorical-or-susceptible-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [It is remarkable how a man cannot summarize his thoughts in even the most general sort of way without betraying himself completely, without putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/it-is-remarkable-how-a-man-cannot-summarize-his-thoughts-in-even-the/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“The Durhannians' countenance lifted as is the way of Hope. There was a village elder whose eyes flickered with the light of Understanding. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-green-westlake/the-durhannians-countenance-lifted-as-is-the-way-of-hope-there-was-a/) Laurie Green Westlake > [“This philistinism of interpretation is more rife in literature than in any other art. For decades now, literary critics have understood it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/this-philistinism-of-interpretation-is-more-rife-in-literature-than/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“On this material plane, each living being is like a street lantern lamp with a dirty lampshade. The inside flame burns evenly and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/on-this-material-plane-each-living-being-is-like-a-street-lantern/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Not taking the Bible (or other texts based on 'revealed truths') literally leaves it up to the reader to cherry-pick elements for belief. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tayler/not-taking-the-bible-or-other-texts-based-on-revealed-truths/) [Jeffrey Tayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tayler/) > [We each create a story - a narritive, a picture, an allegory, a model - for what's going on in the universe. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/we-each-create-a-story-a-narritive-a-picture-an-allegory-a-model-for/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) [Browse all 150 Allegory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Masonry, according to the general acceptation of the term, is an art founded on the principles of geometry, and devoted to the service and convenience of mankind. But Freemasonry, embracing a wider range and having a nobler object in view, namely, the cultivation and improvement of the human mind, may with more propriety be called a science, inasmuch as, availing itself of the terms of the former, it inculcates the principles of the purest morality, though its lessons are for the most part veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Howard Taft" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/masonry-according-to-the-general-acceptation-of-the-term-is-an-art/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Allegory" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/masonry-according-to-the-general-acceptation-of-the-term-is-an-art/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/william-howard-taft-3006_allegory_masonry-according-to-the-general-accepta_2560821.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Masonry, according to the general acceptation of the term, is an art founded on the principles of geometry…” — William Howard Taft", "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 Howard Taft", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Masonry, according to the general acceptation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/masonry-according-to-the-general-acceptation-of-the-term-is-an-art/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/masonry-according-to-the-general-acceptation-of-the-term-is-an-art/#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 } } ] } ```