The nearer the church the farther from God.

Meaning: Proximity to religious institutions cannot substitute for genuine spiritual devotion or moral integrity.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

French: Près de l’église et loin de Dieu (literally: The nearer the church the farther from God)

Pater-noster built churches, and Our Father pulls them down. — Reciting prayers alone, without genuine faith or action, cannot sustain what was built th…
Climb not too high, lest the fall be the greater. — Ambition without caution invites proportional disaster; modest goals protect against cata…
Though the sun shines, leave not your cloak at home. — Unexpectedly harsh conditions can arrive suddenly, so maintain preparedness despite prese…
The clock goes as it pleases the clerk. — A servant's negligence or self-interest determines whether essential tasks proceed reliab…
Clouds that the sun builds up darken him. — What we create to serve our purposes can ultimately obscure our vision and hinder our goa…
Cloudy mornings turn to clear evenings. — Difficult beginnings don't predict final outcomes; patience through hardship often yields…

Loading the full interactive collection…