--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If God would have wanted us to live in a…" description: "\"If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.\" — Zig Ziglar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png" --- # If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive… ![“If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.” quote by Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png) > “If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.” [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts permissive freedom with moral guidance, suggesting structured commandments shape society better than vague suggestions. **In simple terms:** Rules guide society better than vague advice. Key Takeaway Prefer clear moral guidelines. Themes ethics society guidance Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical debate When to use this quote - policy making - parenting - education - community leadership Key Concepts moral philosophy social order Questions to Reflect On - Are ten commandments too restrictive? - How can we balance guidance with freedom? A Different Perspective Strict rules may limit personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Permissive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permissive/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Ten commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-commandments/) ## Related quotes > [“Permissiveness cannot sustain true liberty for long. . . . In Sodom they probably had absolute free speech, but nothing worth saying! On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/permissiveness-cannot-sustain-true-liberty-for-long-in-sodom-they/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [What Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions, they are Commandments. Are, not were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/what-moses-brought-down-from-mt-sinai-were-not-the-ten-suggestions/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“What Moses brought down from Mt Siniai were not ten suggestions. They are Commandments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/what-moses-brought-down-from-mt-siniai-were-not-ten-suggestions-they/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [The notion that Western religions are more rigid than those of Asia is overdrawn. Ours is the most permissive society history has ever known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-notion-that-western-religions-are-more-rigid-than-those-of-asia/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [We live in far too permissive a society. Never before has pornography been this rampant. And those films are so badly lit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/we-live-in-far-too-permissive-a-society-never-before-has-pornography/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/i-love-america-because-it-is-a-confused-chaotic-mess-and-i-hope-we/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The permissive society has been allowed to become a dirty phrase. A better phrase is the civilised society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-jenkins/the-permissive-society-has-been-allowed-to-become-a-dirty-phrase-a/) [Roy Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-jenkins/) > [True freedom is not advanced in the permissive society, which confuses freedom with license to do anything whatever and which in the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/true-freedom-is-not-advanced-in-the-permissive-society-which-confuses/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [ The Law given from Sinai \[The Ten Commandments\] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-law-given-from-sinai-the-ten-commandments-was-a-civil-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“ The Ten Commandments As Interpreted by Robin Palmetier 1. Don’t lie. Unless it’s to the police. 2. Don’t cheat your customers. Robin always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/the-ten-commandments-as-interpreted-by-robin-palmetier-1-don-t-lie/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Zig Ziglar > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A plan is always successful if the plan is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/a-plan-is-always-successful-if-the-plan-is-good/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many times our weaknesses are extensions of our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-times-our-weaknesses-are-extensions-of-our-strengths/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-s-not-what-you-ve-got-it-s-what-you-use-that-makes-a-difference/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [When there is hope in the future, there is power in the present, and since hope is the foundational quality of all change, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-there-is-hope-in-the-future-there-is-power-in-the-present-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The way you look on the outside has a definite bearing on how you feel and see yourself on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-way-you-look-on-the-outside-has-a-definite-bearing-on-how-you/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [You become great by going small thing in a great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-become-great-by-going-small-thing-in-a-great-way/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [God showed me that He could and would replace everything that was missing in my life, but that nothing could replace Him in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/god-showed-me-that-he-could-and-would-replace-everything-that-was/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [As you move to the top, remember the story of the pump. If you start pumping casually or half -heartedly, you will pump forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/as-you-move-to-the-top-remember-the-story-of-the-pump-if-you-start/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Success comes from repeated efforts day in and day out. You learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and continue pressing forward until you achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-comes-from-repeated-efforts-day-in-and-day-out-you-learn-from/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/positive-thinking-will-let-you-use-the-ability-which-you-have-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It will be disastrous when a leader or manager shows up with one attitude one day and treats people with a different attitude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-will-be-disastrous-when-a-leader-or-manager-shows-up-with-one/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-go-looking-for-a-friend-you-re-going-to-find-they-re-very/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) [Explore all 788 Zig Ziglar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## More Commandments quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [“You do not need commandments to tell you what is right and wrong, you need reason. YOU NEED TO THINK. What are the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kassandra-dick/you-do-not-need-commandments-to-tell-you-what-is-right-and-wrong-you/) Kassandra Dick > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In tantra we don't believe in commandments. We believe in the moment and the truth that is applicable for that moment, as best we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-tantra-we-don-t-believe-in-commandments-we-believe-in-the-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [ “the precepts of an absolutely perfect life, since they are the same in each Testament, have pointed out \[to us\] the same God, who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-precepts-of-an-absolutely-perfect-life-since-they-are-the-same-in/) The Church Fathers > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/) Thomas Morell > [“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-fortner/take-care-lest-you-forget-the-lord-your-god-by-not-keeping-his/) [Michael D. Fortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-fortner/) [Browse all 726 Commandments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zig Ziglar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a-permissive-society-he-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commandments" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a-permissive-society-he-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/zig-ziglar-263_commandments_if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a_997039.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not…” — Zig Ziglar", "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": "Zig Ziglar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If God would have wanted us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a-permissive-society-he-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-god-would-have-wanted-us-to-live-in-a-permissive-society-he-would/#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 } } ] } ```