Ronald Knox Quotes

• A loud noise at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.

  Ronald Knox

  Funny, Mom, Baby

  Definition of a baby (attributed)

  51 Copy quote

• Knox was engaged in a theological discussion with scientist John Scott Haldane. 'In a universe containing millions of planets,' reasoned Haldane, 'is it not inevitable that life should appear on at least one of them?' 'Sir,' replied Knox, 'if Scotland Yard found a body in your cabin trunk, would you tell them: 'There are millions of trunks in the world; surely one of them must contain a body? I think the would still want to know who put it there'.

  Ronald Knox

  Knowledge, Science, Thinking

  "The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes". Book by Clifton Fadiman, p. 541, October 31, 2009.

  20 Copy quote

• It is so stupid of modern civilization to have given up believing in the devil when he is the only explanation of it.

  Ronald Knox

  Stupid, Believe, Civilization

  Let Dons Delight ch. 8 (1939)

  19 Copy quote

• Always tell the truth, and people will never believe you.

  Ronald Knox

  Truth, Believe, People

  Ronald Knox (2012). “The Viaduct Murder”, p.56, Hachette UK

  19 Copy quote

• He who travels in the Barque of Peter had better not look too closely into the engine room.

  Ronald Knox

  Looks, Rooms, Peter

  "The Knox Brothers". Book by Penelope Fitzgerald, 1977.

  18 Copy quote

• The great argument used now against any theological proposition is not, that it is untrue, or unthinkable, or unedifying, or unscriptural, or unorthodox, but simply, that the modern mind cannot accept it.

  Ronald Knox

  Catholic, Mind, Unorthodox

  Ronald Arbuthnott Knox (1913). “Some Loose Stones: Being a Consideration of Certain Tendencies in Modern Theology Illustrated by Reference to the Book Called "Foundations,"”

  13 Copy quote

• Only those of us, I think, who were born under Queen Victoria know what it feels like to assume, without questioning, that England is permanently top nation, that foreigners do not matter, and that if the worst comes to the worst, Lord Salisbury will send a gunboat.

  Ronald Knox

  Queens, Thinking, Matter

  "God and the Atom". Book by Ronald Knox, pp. 53 - 54, 1945.

  15 Copy quote

• If you have a sloppy religion you get a sloppy atheism.

  Ronald Knox

  Atheism, Ifs, Sloppy

  "The Knox Brothers". Book by Penelope Fitzgerald, Ch. IV, 1977.

  21 Copy quote

• The difference between the Old and the New Testament is the difference between a man who said "There is nothing new under the sun" and a God who says "Behold, I make all things new.

  Ronald Knox

  Men, Differences, Sun

  16 Copy quote

• All men who have ideals . . . live by some kind of faith, by committing themselves to some kind of loyalty which is not universally recognized as the common property of all thinking men. They must have something-something outside themselves, to make them feel life is worth living, that good rather than evil is the explanation of the world.

  Ronald Knox

  Loyalty, Thinking, Men

  Ronald Knox (2010). “In Soft Garments: Classic Catholic Apologetics”, p.105, Ignatius Press

  14 Copy quote

• It doesn't do to say that heresy produces the development of doctrine, because that annoys the theologians. But it is true to say that as a matter of history the development of doctrine has been largely a reaction on the Church's part to the attacks of heresy.

  Ronald Knox

  Church, Doctrine, Development

  Ronald Arbuthnott Knox (1963). “University and Anglican sermons of Ronald A. Knox: together with sermons preached on various occasions”

  9 Copy quote

• Comparative religion is an admirable recipe for making people comparatively religious.

  Ronald Knox

  Religious, Way, Study

  "The Hidden Stream". Book by Ronald Knox, p. 105, 1952.

  13 Copy quote

• O God, for as much as without Thee We are not enabled to doubt Thee, Help us all by Thy grace To convince the whole race It knows nothing whatever about Thee.

  Ronald Knox

  Race, Doubt, Helping

  Attributed, in Langford Reed 'Complete Limerick Book' (1924)

  7 Copy quote

• The prevailing attitude of the speakers was one of heavy disagreement with a number of things which the reader had not said.

  Ronald Knox

  Attitude, Numbers, Heavy

  "Let Dons Delight". Book by Ronald Knox. Note on Chapter 8, 1939.

  10 Copy quote

• When suave politeness, tempering bigot zeal, corrected 'I believe' to 'one does feel'.

  Ronald Knox

  Believe, Doe, Racist

  'Absolute and Abitofhell' (1913)

  28 Copy quote

• Only man had dignity; only man, therefore, can be funny.

  Ronald Knox

  Men, Dignity, Theologian

  Essays in Satire by Ronald Knox, Introduction, 1928.

  9 Copy quote

• Long before I had ever seen a ritualistic service I became a Ritualist.

  Ronald Knox

  Long, Ritual

  Ronald Arbuthnott Knox (1958). “A Spiritual Aeneid”

  5 Copy quote

• The hall-mark of American humour is its pose of illiteracy.

  Ronald Knox

  Mark, Humour, Halls

  8 Copy quote

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