“Every formula of every religion has in this age of reason, to submit to the acid test of reason and universal assent.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to Gandhi's writings on religion and reason (Young India/Harijan era); no dated primary line verbatim-confirmed.
About this quote
Inherited doctrine doesn't earn a free pass simply because it's old. A belief worth keeping should hold up to honest questioning and win broad agreement, rather than survive on authority and habit alone — reason is the test it has to pass.
When to use it
- Examining a family custom before passing it to your kids, keeping what still makes sense.
- A community revising an old bylaw that no longer serves anyone once it's openly questioned.
- Questioning a belief you were raised with instead of accepting it just because you were taught it.