--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If horses had Gods, they would look like…" description: "\"If horses had Gods, they would look like horses.\" — Xenophanes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png" --- # If horses had Gods, they would look like horses. ![“If horses had Gods, they would look like horses.” quote by Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png) > “If horses had Gods, they would look like horses.” [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine forms reflect their subjects; gods would resemble the beings they create. **In simple terms:** Gods would look like horses if horses had gods. Key Takeaway Recognize projection in our concepts of the divine. Themes theology anthropomorphism philosophy Mood reflective critical Type philosophical mythic When to use this quote - religious discourse - artistic metaphor - cultural studies Key Concepts metaphysics symbolic representation Questions to Reflect On - How do our images shape our idea of the divine? - Can we conceive a deity beyond human traits? A Different Perspective Assuming divine similarity may limit understanding of transcendence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Gods Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-look-1648807/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horses/) [Horses Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horses-gods-3729972/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Like Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-horses-341569/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) ## Related quotes > [I like horses. My grandfather had a horse named Whiskey and I got to ride it all the time. They are terrifying and beautiful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-warren-jones/i-like-horses-my-grandfather-had-a-horse-named-whiskey-and-i-got-to/) [Shane Warren Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-warren-jones/) > [The Ethiops say that their gods are flat-nosed and black, While the Thracians say that theirs have blue eyes and red hair. “If oxen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/the-ethiops-say-that-their-gods-are-flat-nosed-and-black-while-the-2/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Women really like the horses, more so than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-fox/women-really-like-the-horses-more-so-than-men/) [Danny Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-fox/) > [We like horses and we like dogs and we like to be in the midst of agriculture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-larouche/we-like-horses-and-we-like-dogs-and-we-like-to-be-in-the-midst-of/) [Lyndon LaRouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-larouche/) > [I like horses!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/i-like-horses/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) > [“There's so few things men can talk about. If a man doesn't like baseball, then he must like horses, and if he doesn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-s-so-few-things-men-can-talk-about-if-a-man-doesn-t-like/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I've always said - I don't know why - that I didn't like horses and was scared of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/i-ve-always-said-i-don-t-know-why-that-i-didn-t-like-horses-and-was/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > [I don't like anybody or anything," said Lucinda. Yes, you do;--you like horses to ride, and dresses to wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/i-don-t-like-anybody-or-anything-said-lucinda-yes-you-do-you-like/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [If cattle and horses, or lions, had hands, or were able to draw with their feet and produce the works which men do, horses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-cattle-and-horses-or-lions-had-hands-or-were-able-to-draw-with/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [One thing that I get from a lot of people with 'American Gods' is people saying that they would love some kind of glossary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/one-thing-that-i-get-from-a-lot-of-people-with-american-gods-is/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [A real artist may create his picture in a lonely desert... gods look over his shoulder; he creates in their company. What does he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/a-real-artist-may-create-his-picture-in-a-lonely-desert-gods-look/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [Nay, we must think men are not gods, Nor of them look for such observancy As fits the bridal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/nay-we-must-think-men-are-not-gods-nor-of-them-look-for-such/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“wherever a human being goes, there is a challenge. Be the best man you can, and your gods will look with favor upon you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/wherever-a-human-being-goes-there-is-a-challenge-be-the-best-man-you/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [The gods look in pleasure on penitent sinners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/the-gods-look-in-pleasure-on-penitent-sinners/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [“When one does something, one must do it wholly and well. Those bastard existences where you sell suet all day and write poetry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-one-does-something-one-must-do-it-wholly-and-well-those-bastard/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## More by Xenophanes > [...for our wisdom is better than the strength of men or of horses. ... nor is it right to prefer strength to excellent wisdom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/for-our-wisdom-is-better-than-the-strength-of-men-or-of-horses-nor-is/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/homer-and-hesiod-attributed-to-the-gods-all-things-which-are/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [If oxen and lions had hands and could paint with their hands and produce works of art, as men do, horses would paint the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-oxen-and-lions-had-hands-and-could-paint-with-their-hands-and/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [For we are all sprung from earth and water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/for-we-are-all-sprung-from-earth-and-water/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [The sun comes into being each day from little pieces of fire that are collected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/the-sun-comes-into-being-each-day-from-little-pieces-of-fire-that-are/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/no-human-being-will-ever-know-the-truth-for-even-if-they-happen-to/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [If cows and horses had hands and could draw, cows would draw gods that look like cows and horses would draw gods that look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-cows-and-horses-had-hands-and-could-draw-cows-would-draw-gods-that/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [There is one god, greatest among gods and men, who bears no similarity to humans either in shape or thought... but humans believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/there-is-one-god-greatest-among-gods-and-men-who-bears-no-similarity/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [In the beginning the gods did not at all reveal all things clearly to mortals, but by searching men in the course of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/in-the-beginning-the-gods-did-not-at-all-reveal-all-things-clearly-to/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Men always makes gods in their own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/men-always-makes-gods-in-their-own-image/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [But if cattle and horses or lions had hands, or were able to draw with their hands and do the work that men can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/but-if-cattle-and-horses-or-lions-had-hands-or-were-able-to-draw-with/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [Truly the gods have not from the beginning revealed all things to mortals, but by long seeking, mortals discover what is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/truly-the-gods-have-not-from-the-beginning-revealed-all-things-to/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [“The Ethiops say that their gods are flat-nosed and black, While the Thracians say that theirs have blue eyes and red hair. Yet if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/the-ethiops-say-that-their-gods-are-flat-nosed-and-black-while-the/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [All men begin their learning with Homer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/all-men-begin-their-learning-with-homer/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [ But without effort \[God\] sets in motion all things by mind and thought. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/but-without-effort-god-sets-in-motion-all-things-by-mind-and-thought/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) [Explore all 41 Xenophanes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) ## 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. 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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": "If horses had Gods, they would look like horses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Xenophanes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like-horses/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like-horses/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e2/xenophanes-16062_god_if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like_2841724.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If horses had Gods, they would look like horses.” — Xenophanes", "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": "Xenophanes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If horses had Gods, they would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like-horses/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/if-horses-had-gods-they-would-look-like-horses/#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 } } ] } ```