"Most people are willing to take the Sermon on the Mount as a flag to sail under, but few will use it as a rudder by which to steer"

This quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a commentary on how people typically accept the mentors of the Bible, but do not necessarily live by them. He is stating that lots of people are willing to accept the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, such as loving your next-door neighbor and turning the other cheek, but couple of people in fact use these mentors to direct their lives. He is recommending that people ought to not simply accept the teachings of the Bible, however need to use them as a moral compass to direct their decisions and actions. He is highlighting the importance of living by the teachings of the Bible, rather than simply accepting them as a set of perfects. By using the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount as a rudder, individuals can make sure that their lives are guided by the moral concepts of the Bible.