Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Beppo and Karl

Posted by Morona marx on November 12, 2002

In Reply to: I mean "Marx" posted by Word Camel on November 12, 2002

: : : : Thanks Woodchuck!

: : : : Those are close, maybe the one I am thinking of goes something like Religion is the crutch... or maybe the opium, something in that vein. Wish I could remember.

: : : : Thanks again for your effort!

: : : :
: : : : : : Hi,

: : : : : : I am looking for the correct phrase and origin of a phrase that goes something like, "Religion is the province of the uninspired." or something to that effect.

: : : : : : Any help would be appreciated!

: : : : : I can't find that phrasing in my references, but here are two of the more famous quotes expressing similar ideas.

: : : : : "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." - Karl Marx

: : : : : "Religion is this. They act as in religion that is to say they neither wait nor stay away. Religion is best as it is. If they like it at all they like it all, not only more than once but often." - Gertrude Stein

: : : Marx is often misquoted as having said "Religion is the opiate of the people." Perhaps that's what you had in mind.

: :
: : There are also slightly different translations of Mark kicking around which would account for some variation.

:
: I am no markist.

You are right, of course, and I stand corrected. I was thinking of the second version as being an attempt to summarize the full quote, when in fact it's an alternate translation of the last line.

Either that or I was confusing Karl with Groucho: "Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted."