--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know no religion that destroys…" description: "\"I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.\" — William Penn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png" --- # I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and… ![“I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.” quote by William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png) > “I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.” [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Asserts that true religion promotes courtesy, civility, and kindness. **In simple terms:** Religion should foster kindness and civility. Key Takeaway Choose faiths that encourage kindness. Themes religion ethics humanity Mood thoughtful hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - community service - interfaith dialogue - education - policy making Key Concepts moral philosophy social harmony Questions to Reflect On - Which values do you prioritize in your spiritual life? - How can you model kindness regardless of belief? A Different Perspective Not all religions practice these virtues equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility/) [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I think we need leadership that can gently and with affection remind us of what we Americans mostly agree upon: civility, kindness, tolerance, humour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-we-need-leadership-that-can-gently-and-with-affection-remind/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [We need to seek wise leaders who will seek common ground among Americans instead of dividing us further for political gain. As citizens, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/we-need-to-seek-wise-leaders-who-will-seek-common-ground-among/) [James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/) > [“...the apartment is an oasis - of civility, kindness, and elegance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/the-apartment-is-an-oasis-of-civility-kindness-and-elegance/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [“Good manners without sincerity are like a beautiful dead lady. Straightforwardness without civility is like a surgeon's knife, effective but unpleasant. Candor with courtesy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukteswar-giri/good-manners-without-sincerity-are-like-a-beautiful-dead-lady/) [Yukteswar Giri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukteswar-giri/) > [I have often seen people uncivil by too much civility, and tiresome in their courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-often-seen-people-uncivil-by-too-much-civility-and-tiresome-in/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Civility, which is a disposition to accommodate and oblige others, is essentially the same in every country; but good breeding, asit is called, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/civility-which-is-a-disposition-to-accommodate-and-oblige-others-is/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The first rule of etiquette a boy learns when he's about to enter society is that civility is due to all women. No provocation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-first-rule-of-etiquette-a-boy-learns-when-he-s-about-to-enter/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Politeness is the first thing people lose once they get the power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/politeness-is-the-first-thing-people-lose-once-they-get-the-power/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Aspects of life here civility, courtesy, coziness have always bound Britons to their country . . . They are part of the British myth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-w-apple/aspects-of-life-here-civility-courtesy-coziness-have-always-bound/) R. W. Apple > [Nothing costs less nor is cheaper than compliments of civility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/nothing-costs-less-nor-is-cheaper-than-compliments-of-civility/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [There is a mighty gulf between those who love and those who do not love God To the one class we owe civility, courtesy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/there-is-a-mighty-gulf-between-those-who-love-and-those-who-do-not/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Civility means a great deal more than just being nice to one another. It is complex and encompasses learning how to connect successfully and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-forni/civility-means-a-great-deal-more-than-just-being-nice-to-one-another/) [P. M. Forni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-m-forni/) > [“When you know you can do something, and you feel good about yourself, you do not have to devalue others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-hickey/when-you-know-you-can-do-something-and-you-feel-good-about-yourself/) John Patrick Hickey > [“He's a scientist, and they know everything. Religion is crap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/he-s-a-scientist-and-they-know-everything-religion-is-crap/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-india-with-my-father-i-don-t-know-all-about/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More by William Penn > [Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/love-grows-lust-wastes-by-enjoyment-and-the-reason-is-that-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Once you've accumulated sufficient knowledge to get by, you're too old to remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/once-you-ve-accumulated-sufficient-knowledge-to-get-by-you-re-too-old/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-thou-wouldn-t-conquer-thy-weakness-thou-must-not-gratify-it/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/religion-is-the-fear-of-god-and-its-demonstration-good-works-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [All excess is ill; but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/all-excess-is-ill-but-drunkenness-is-of-the-worst-sort-it-spoils/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“Let us then try what love can do to mend a broken world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/let-us-then-try-what-love-can-do-to-mend-a-broken-world/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > ['Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/tis-no-sin-to-be-tempted-but-to-be-overcome/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Perfect love casteth out fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/perfect-love-casteth-out-fear/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [By liberty of conscience, we understand not only a mere liberty of the mind, in believing or disbelieving this or that principle or doctrine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/by-liberty-of-conscience-we-understand-not-only-a-mere-liberty-of-the/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/content-not-thyself-that-thou-art-virtuous-in-the-general-for-one/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [We are apt to be very pert at censuring others, where we will not endure advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/we-are-apt-to-be-very-pert-at-censuring-others-where-we-will-not/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [It is admirable to consider how many millions of people come into, and go out of the world, ignorant of themselves and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/it-is-admirable-to-consider-how-many-millions-of-people-come-into-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him... Those who will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/if-thou-wouldst-rule-well-thou-must-rule-for-god-and-to-do-that-thou/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/in-the-rush-and-noise-of-life-as-you-have-intervals-step-home-within/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Be sure that religion cannot be right that a man is the worse for having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/be-sure-that-religion-cannot-be-right-that-a-man-is-the-worse-for/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) [Explore all 291 William Penn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) ## More Civility quotes > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Most adults would not dream of belittling, humiliating, or bullying (verbally or physically) another adult. But many of the same adults think nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/most-adults-would-not-dream-of-belittling-humiliating-or-bullying/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [Martha Stewart contributes more to our civility than the Baptist Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-hickey/martha-stewart-contributes-more-to-our-civility-than-the-baptist/) [Dave Hickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-hickey/) > [The Second World War had a precipitating effect in that it discredited the empires, as well as bankrupting them. Not only could you no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/the-second-world-war-had-a-precipitating-effect-in-that-it/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [How much wit, good-nature, indulgences, how many good offices and civilities, are required among friends to accomplish in some years what a lovely face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/how-much-wit-good-nature-indulgences-how-many-good-offices-and/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [They parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/they-parted-at-last-with-mutual-civility-and-possibly-a-mutual-desire/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“When someone has wronged you, continue to treat them with civility. It’s the ultimate mark of a mensch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruna-martinuzzi/when-someone-has-wronged-you-continue-to-treat-them-with-civility-it/) [Bruna Martinuzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruna-martinuzzi/) > [“Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/elizabeth-received-them-with-all-the-forbearance-of-civility/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/never-in-england-were-there-so-many-gentlemen-and-so-little-gentleness/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/a-good-word-is-an-easy-obligation-but-not-to-speak-ill-requires-only/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > ['Playboy' operated with a patina of civility that granted the average man a presumption of pleasure that went one way - his. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/playboy-operated-with-a-patina-of-civility-that-granted-the-average/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [ \[T\]he politically correct are above the rules of ordinary civility, once they have identified you as an unbeliever in their religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/t-he-politically-correct-are-above-the-rules-of-ordinary-civility/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Sanctions alone could not stop Iran's nuclear program. But they did help bring Iran to the negotiating table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/sanctions-alone-could-not-stop-iran-s-nuclear-program-but-they-did/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Browse all 393 Civility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Penn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtesy-civility-and-kindness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civility" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtesy-civility-and-kindness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/william-penn-1104_civility_i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtes_2130119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.” — William Penn", "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 Penn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know no religion that destroys...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtesy-civility-and-kindness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/i-know-no-religion-that-destroys-courtesy-civility-and-kindness/#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 } } ] } ```