“So long as there are different religions, every one of them may need some outward distinctive symbol. But when the symbol is made into a fetish and an instrument of proving the superiority of one’s religion over others’, it is fit only to be discarded.”
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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 autobiography / religious writings; plausibly genuine but exact wording not located in a dated primary source.
About this quote
A badge of belief does no harm while it simply marks who you are. The trouble starts when that emblem becomes a scoreboard — proof that your group ranks above another's. At that point it has stopped signifying faith and started serving contempt, which is reason enough to set it down.
When to use it
- A fan wears his team's colors proudly but stops when they become an excuse to taunt rival supporters.
- A club keeps its founding motto until members start using it to shame newcomers, then quietly retires it.
- A family treasures a heritage recipe as a link to their roots, not as evidence their cooking beats the neighbors'.