--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men must be governed by God or they will…" description: "\"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.\" — William Penn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png" --- # Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by… ![“Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.” quote by William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png) > “Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.” [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. Society needs divine guidance or it risks falling under tyrannical rule. **In simple terms:** God or tyranny: a choice for governance. Key Takeaway Seek moral foundations. Themes politics morality authority Mood serious hopeful Type political ethical When to use this quote - government formation - civil rights - community leadership Key Concepts theology political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What moral principles guide you? - How can societies protect liberty? A Different Perspective Secular ethics can also prevent tyranny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Ruled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-ruled-2179764/) [Governed God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governed-god-1113788/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-governed-1310007/) [Ruled Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruled-tyrants-2179765/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) ## Related quotes > [“Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/those-people-who-will-not-be-governed-by-god-will-be-ruled-by-tyrants/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [As William Penn put it: "Those people who are not governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." Remember... that those tyrants are often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/as-william-penn-put-it-those-people-who-are-not-governed-by-god-will/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [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/) > [There is no erratic power or action or motion in creatures but they are governed by God's secret plan in such a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-no-erratic-power-or-action-or-motion-in-creatures-but-they/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/man-will-ultimately-be-governed-by-god-or-by-tyrants/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Men are not governed by justice, but by law or persuasion. When they refuse to be governed by law or persuasion, they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/men-are-not-governed-by-justice-but-by-law-or-persuasion-when-they/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“These Americans believed that one great male god ruled the world. Sometimes they divided him into three parts, which they called father, son, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-loewen/these-americans-believed-that-one-great-male-god-ruled-the-world/) [James W. Loewen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-loewen/) > [Men still have to be governed by deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/men-still-have-to-be-governed-by-deception/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > ['The Founding Fathers established a nation under God; Ruled not by arbitrary decrees of Kings or whims, of entrenched elites but by the consent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-founding-fathers-established-a-nation-under-god-ruled-not-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hope that we have not labored in vain, and that our experiment will still prove that men can be governed by reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-hope-that-we-have-not-labored-in-vain-and-that-our-experiment-will/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Men are governed by lines of intellect - women: by curves of emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/men-are-governed-by-lines-of-intellect-women-by-curves-of-emotion/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“God could have over-ruled every difficulty in your way, had he seen it expedient. But he is pleased to show you, that you depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/god-could-have-over-ruled-every-difficulty-in-your-way-had-he-seen-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [Governments must conform to the nature of the men governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-vico/governments-must-conform-to-the-nature-of-the-men-governed/) [Giambattista Vico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giambattista-vico/) > [How nations and races of men are to be so governed as may be most conducive to the improvement and happiness of all is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/how-nations-and-races-of-men-are-to-be-so-governed-as-may-be-most/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [This is a faithless old world. Men and women are hardheaded, pleasure-mad, money crazy. They write up their successes and say, "The power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-roberson/this-is-a-faithless-old-world-men-and-women-are-hardheaded-pleasure/) [Lee Roberson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-roberson/) ## 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 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": "Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Penn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will-be-ruled-by-tyrants/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will-be-ruled-by-tyrants/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b23/william-penn-1104_god_men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will_211301.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.” — 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": "Men must be governed by God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will-be-ruled-by-tyrants/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/men-must-be-governed-by-god-or-they-will-be-ruled-by-tyrants/#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 } } ] } ```