Essay on cleanliness is next to godliness?

Answer 1

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Cleanliness is next to Godliness ?

Cleanliness is undoubtedly a virtue and is to be encouraged. Cleanliness is traditionally associated with good health, tidiness, and purity. However, to place Cleanliness next to Godliness is surely a bit perverse? In comparison with various other noble virtues, for example truth, generosity, courage, honesty, loyalty, wisdom, ingenuity, kindness ? Cleanliness, although good, is surely not that good!

The expression "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" also raises the question of what GODLINESS is. Presumably it is the situation of being Godley. Regardless of whether this is with Cream or not, it must mean "like (a) God". A dubious virtue in itself, for various reasons, not least of which being that it would infer a person to be not averse to perpetrating upon people the type of cruel perils which insurance companies would like to insure people against.

This page has a message which has less to do with being clean or any religious notion, and it's simply this: When someone quotes an aphorism to you and it sounds wise, don't just accept it! Question it!