I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to

“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.” — Thus spoke Susan B. Anthony, the warrior for justice and voice of conscience, whose words pierce through the fog of hypocrisy like a blade of truth. In this saying, she warns not only her own generation but all that follow: beware of those who cloak their ambitions in holiness, who invoke the name of God not to serve truth, but to sanctify their own will. Her words are both an accusation and a revelation — that the greatest danger to faith is not disbelief, but self-deception disguised as divine certainty.

The meaning of this quote is as clear as it is timeless. Anthony, a leader of the women’s suffrage movement and a champion of equality, had witnessed how religion was often twisted to maintain power, justify oppression, and silence truth. She saw men — and institutions — declare that “God wills” the subjugation of women, the bondage of slaves, or the persecution of those who thought differently. Yet in every case, these supposed revelations conveniently advanced the desires of those already in control. Thus, she saw through the veil: that when man speaks too confidently of God’s will, it is often his own will he serves. The line between faith and ego is perilously thin, and the wise must guard it with humility.

The origin of this insight lies in Anthony’s own struggle against a society that used religion as a chain rather than a light. She lived in an age when women were told it was God’s decree that they remain silent, obedient, and dependent. Yet Anthony, guided by the deeper spirit of truth, refused such bondage. She read the same Scriptures her opponents used, but where they found justification for power, she found the call to righteousness and equality. Her distrust was not of God, but of those who claimed exclusive knowledge of Him — those who, in their certainty, ceased to listen, to question, or to love.

This warning echoes through history. Consider the story of the Crusades, when men, believing themselves holy warriors, slaughtered thousands in the name of God. Or the inquisitors of medieval Europe, who burned innocents while declaring they were defending divine truth. In every age, such zeal arises: people who believe their convictions are God’s commands, their prejudices His wisdom. Yet, as Anthony discerned, the will of God is never cruel, and the desires of ego are never holy. When man confuses his passion for divine purpose, he turns faith into tyranny and righteousness into ruin.

Her insight is not one of cynicism, but of wisdom born of humility. True faith does not speak with arrogance, but with reverence. The one who truly seeks the will of God knows that it cannot be known through self-interest or pride, but through silence, compassion, and service. Anthony’s distrust, then, is not a rejection of belief but a defense of authentic spirituality — the kind that bends the knee before mystery, not before personal desire. The more certain one is of divine endorsement, the more one should question whether one is listening to God’s voice or merely the echo of one’s own.

There is a modern mirror of this truth in the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who faced similar distortions of faith. He often warned his followers that when men claim God is on their side, they risk falling into violence and pride. Instead, he said, “It is not for us to say that God is with us, but to strive to be with God.” Gandhi, like Anthony, understood that humility before the divine is the mark of true belief. The one who truly walks with God does not proclaim dominion but practices mercy; does not impose, but uplifts.

Therefore, my children, take this teaching as a lamp for your path: beware of certainty wrapped in sanctity. When someone declares, “This is what God wants,” listen carefully, but test their words against the measure of love, justice, and humility. For God’s will does not contradict His nature, and His nature is compassion. The divine does not command oppression, nor bless greed or cruelty. If a claim of holiness brings harm, it is no revelation but corruption.

And so, let your faith be humble and your heart discerning. Seek truth, not power; seek wisdom, not victory. When you speak of God, speak softly, and when you claim to serve Him, do so with open hands and a listening spirit. For the divine will is not seized by the proud, but whispered to the meek. Remember the words of Susan B. Anthony, and let them guide your spirit: the greatest faith is not in proclaiming that God agrees with you — it is in striving to align your will with His, even when it leads you away from your own desires.