# Help with famous quotation...Biblical?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 16, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987 "2001-09-16T17:27:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987/1 "2001-09-16T17:27:37Z")
My dad asked me to look this up and for the life of me, I can’t remember how it’s traditionally phrased so I can’t find it. The quote in question goes something like:
_What good is it to gain the whole world if it costs a man his soul (or son.)_
Anyway, anyone know who said this and how it traditionally goes?
Thanks
Fenris
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2001, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987/2 "2001-09-16T17:40:17Z")
From the Christian bible, the book of Mark, chapter 8, verse 36. The KJV has Jesus say “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
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### Author:  [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2001, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987/3 "2001-09-16T17:40:58Z")
It’s from the New Testament.
[Matthew](http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4563978), Chapter 16, verse 26
\*For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? \*
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### Author:  [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987/4 "2001-09-16T17:42:07Z")
Matthew 16:26 : For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(also Mark 8:26 and Luke 9:25)
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-famous-quotation-biblical/81987/5 "2001-09-17T00:43:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fenris \*
> \*\*_What good is it to gain the whole world if it costs a man his soul (or son.)_
>
> Anyway, anyone know who said this and how it traditionally goes?
> \*\*
The “Son” misquote is Kirk’s, from _Star Trek, The Wrath of Khan._ It would be telling to see how many people are more familiar with that version.
Tee hee.