"Divine religion ... does not prod men with an iron rod; it guides them with bands of love. It draws no avenging sword, dispenses no temporal goods, assumes no right to any earthly possessions, and claims no external power over the mind. Its weapons are reason and persuasion; its strength is the divine power of truth."

Moses Mendelssohn Religion See all quotes by Moses Mendelssohn →

React to this quote

More by Moses Mendelssohn

“The state gives orders and coerces, religion teaches and persuades. The state prescribes laws, religion commandments. The state has physical power and uses it when necessary; the power of religion is love and benificence. The one abandons the disobedient and expels him; the other receives him in its bosom and seeks to instruct, or at least to console him.”

Resonant Thoughts

"I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion …"

— Billy Graham

Politics1918–2018

#politics

"What hath God wrought?"

— Samuel F. B. Morse

Art1791–1872

#religion

"The Voice had promised me that, as soon I came to the King, he would receive me. Those of my party knew well that the Voice had been sent me from God; they have seen and known this Voice, I am sure of…"

— Joan of Arc

Military1412–1431

#religion

"From the examination of numbers, I believed myself justified in inferring, as a natural consequence, that, in given circumstances, and the influence of the same causes, we may reckon upon witnessing t…"

— Adolphe Quetelet

Science1796–1874

#justice