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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 The Hidden Stream (1952)

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More quotes by Ronald Knox

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

The Hidden Stream (1952)

Only man has dignity; only man, therefore, can be funny.

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

There once was a man who said: "God
Must think it exceedingly odd
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there's no one about in the Quad."

When suave politeness, temp'ring bigot zeal
Corrected I believe to One does feel.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Ronald Knox (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.