The doctor sees all the weakness of mankind; the lawyer all the wickedness, the theologian all the stupidity.
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As a man can drink water from any side of a full tank, so the skilled theologian can wrest from any scripture that which will serve his purpose.
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The theologian considers sin mainly as an offence against God; the moral philosopher as contrary to reasonableness.
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Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths that are revealed. They are entirely different things.
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Saying that a great genius is mad, while at the same time recognizing his artistic worth, is like saying that he had rheumatism or suffered from diabetes. Madness, in fact, is a medical term that can claim no more notice from the objective critic than he grants the charge of heresy raised by the theologian, or the charge of immorality raised by the police.
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The lover knows much more about absolute good and universal beauty than any logician or theologian, unless the latter, too, be lovers in disguise.
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