Cleanliness is next to godliness: Physical cleanliness betokens spiritual purity. The idea is an ancient one, found in both Babylonian and Hebrew religious tracts. The precise phrase first appears in a sermon by John Wesley in 1778, which puts it in quotation marks but does not reveal the source. It is much quoted thereafter, by Dickens and Shaw (“Cleanliness which comes next to godliness, if not before it,” Man and Superman, 1903), among others.
Synonyms and Similar Expressions
- Hygiene is a virtue
- Maintain cleanliness, sustain holiness
- A clean body, a clear soul
Antonyms
- Sloth breeds squalor
- Dirt attracts depravity
Humor-Filled Quotes
“Cleaning the house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” — Phyllis Diller
“Cleanliness becomes more important when godliness is unlikely.” — P.J. O’Rourke
Proverbs and References
“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.” — George Bernard Shaw
“A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” — Margaret Fuller
“When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only halfway there.” — Japanese Proverb
Suggested Literature, Books, and Movies
Literature
- “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo
- “Man and Superman” by George Bernard Shaw
- “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens
Movies
- Patch Adams (1998) - Inspirational depiction of the healing environment created by cleanliness and imagination.
- Mary Poppins (1964) - Whimsical take on cleanliness and order.
Songs and Poetry
- Song: “Cleaning Out My Closet” by Eminem
- Poem: “Ode to Clean Clothes” by Sylvia Plath
Farewell, keep your minds bright 🌟 and your surrounds cleaner 🧽, for he who seeks wisdom must also respect order. Until next time, may your journey towards cleanliness and godliness be filled with sparkling success and radiant joy!
In clarity and cheer, Clara Clarity
