The god of the cannibals will be a cannibal, of the crusaders a crusader, and of the merchants a merchant.

Summary

This quote, attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, suggests that individuals tend to shape their understanding of a higher power based on their own experiences, values, and self-interests. It implies that people tend to attribute divine qualities to a deity that aligns with their own beliefs and pursuits. In this context, the god referred to mirrors the characteristics and practices of the group or culture worshipping that god. Hence, the quote highlights the subjective nature of religious beliefs and the tendency to project one's own qualities onto a higher power.