--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are clearly many good politicians…" description: "\"There are clearly many good politicians who are guided by religious belief, so the mix can work. But there's a line to be drawn. It would be hugely dan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/zac-goldsmith-15438_belief_there-are-clearly-many-good-politicians_1815718.jpg" --- # There are clearly many good politicians who are guided by… ![“There are clearly many good politicians who are guided by religious belief, so the mix can work. But there's a line to be drawn. It would be hugely dangerous for a country's laws to be set by the scriptures, and particularly those of the expansionist religions.” quote by Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/zac-goldsmith-15438_belief_there-are-clearly-many-good-politicians_1815718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/zac-goldsmith-15438_belief_there-are-clearly-many-good-politicians_1815718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/747/zac-goldsmith-15438_belief_there-are-clearly-many-good-politicians_1815718.jpg) > “There are clearly many good politicians who are guided by religious belief, so the mix can work. But there's a line to be drawn. It would be hugely dangerous for a country's laws to be set by the scriptures, and particularly those of the expansionist religions.” [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious belief can guide politicians, but laws should not be dictated by scripture, especially expansionist faiths. **In simple terms:** Faith influences politics, but law must stay secular. Key Takeaway Separate personal belief from legal authority. Themes separation of church and state political ethics religion in public life Mood thoughtful cautious Type political ethical When to use this quote - drafting legislation - public debate on religious influence - protecting minority rights Key Concepts secularism legal pluralism human rights Questions to Reflect On - Should personal faith shape public policy? - What safeguards prevent religious overreach? A Different Perspective Balancing faith and governance is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Good politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-politicians/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religions/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-belief/) [Scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I know we can't abolish prejudice through laws, but we can set up guidelines for our actions by legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-we-can-t-abolish-prejudice-through-laws-but-we-can-set-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For a man's property is not at all secure, though there be good and equitable laws to set the bounds of it, between him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/for-a-man-s-property-is-not-at-all-secure-though-there-be-good-and/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“There are no laws set in stones, follow your basic instincts, they contain the laws that guide you existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/there-are-no-laws-set-in-stones-follow-your-basic-instincts-they/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [All the politics in the world are nothing else but a kind of analysis of the quantity of probability in casual events, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/all-the-politics-in-the-world-are-nothing-else-but-a-kind-of-analysis/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [I suppose it's part of being a good politician to be able to spot the most important men in any group without outside assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ford/i-suppose-it-s-part-of-being-a-good-politician-to-be-able-to-spot-the/) [Leslie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ford/) > [I never thought Hillary Clinton was a very good politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/i-never-thought-hillary-clinton-was-a-very-good-politician/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [Cats are oppressed, dogs terrify them, landladies starve them, boys stone them, everybody speaks of them with contempt. If they were human beings we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/cats-are-oppressed-dogs-terrify-them-landladies-starve-them-boys/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Even a good politician, someone who is very ambitious, chooses not to see trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/even-a-good-politician-someone-who-is-very-ambitious-chooses-not-to/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [I don't see Sarah Palin suddenly spilling over to a wider group where suddenly they go, "Wait a minute, I've heard her message, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/i-don-t-see-sarah-palin-suddenly-spilling-over-to-a-wider-group-where/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I don't know if I am a very good politician. 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Since the 1930s, politicians have striven to leave no vote unbought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/dependency-is-the-highest-political-good-at-least-for-politicians/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [There are, believe it or not, good politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keys-moran/there-are-believe-it-or-not-good-politicians/) [Daniel Keys Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keys-moran/) > [Nothing corrupts a politician quite as much as friendship. Good politicians don't bribe; they make us like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-parris/nothing-corrupts-a-politician-quite-as-much-as-friendship-good/) [Matthew Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-parris/) ## More by Zac Goldsmith > [I can't be bought. I don't need to be bought. I'm not a careerist. I don't need to have a career in politics. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/i-can-t-be-bought-i-don-t-need-to-be-bought-i-m-not-a-careerist-i-don/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [We always hear from newspapers that while people understand the environmental challenge, they are unwilling to stomach the solutions. The trouble is, we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/we-always-hear-from-newspapers-that-while-people-understand-the/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [By uploading 40 years of 'Ecologist' editions online, we will be creating the world's most extensive ecological archive. 'The Ecologist' will continue to set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/by-uploading-40-years-of-ecologist-editions-online-we-will-be/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [All schools should teach children basic cooking skills. 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And the main cause is not policy; it's the fact that there is no trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/politicians-are-so-detested-and-the-main-cause-is-not-policy-it-s-the/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Yes, Heathrow is the U.K.'s busiest airport, but new runways or a new airport are not the answer. It is far better to focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/yes-heathrow-is-the-u-k-s-busiest-airport-but-new-runways-or-a-new/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [In North America, more than half of all children travel to school by bus. We need a similar programme in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/in-north-america-more-than-half-of-all-children-travel-to-school-by/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [While big business gain subsidies and political access, small businesses drown in red tape, and individuals now risk being classified as terrorists for complaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/while-big-business-gain-subsidies-and-political-access-small/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [The Conservatives are a confusing lot. They first denied climate change was a serious issue and then suggested strengthening the nuclear industry as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/the-conservatives-are-a-confusing-lot-they-first-denied-climate/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Sense About Science is much more than an innocent fact-checking service. It is a spin-off of a bizarre political network that began life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/sense-about-science-is-much-more-than-an-innocent-fact-checking/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > ['Green' cannot be allowed to become an excuse for stealth taxes. And nor should 'green taxes' be about punishment. Instead, they should represent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/green-cannot-be-allowed-to-become-an-excuse-for-stealth-taxes-and-nor/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [Green policy is about triggering a shift to a cleaner way of doing things. To be effective, it needs to incentivise the right behaviour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/green-policy-is-about-triggering-a-shift-to-a-cleaner-way-of-doing/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) > [If there was a time when 'The Ecologist' appeared not to be making a difference at all, not doing something useful, I wouldn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-goldsmith/if-there-was-a-time-when-the-ecologist-appeared-not-to-be-making-a/) [Zac Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) [Explore all 43 Zac Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-goldsmith/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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