Quotes about faith
146 quotes from 98 people
Paul Tillich1886–1965Dynamics of Faith (1957)
Anne Sexton1928–1974To Bedlam and Part Way Back (1960)One can only believe entirely, perhaps, in what one cannot see.
Virginia Woolf1882–1941Orlando: A Biography (1928), Ch. 4To God, and not to man, are all men to account for their belief.
Thomas Paine1737–1809Discourse to the Theophilanthropists (1798)Belief is nearly the whole of the Universe, whether based on truth or not.
Kurt Vonnegut1922–2007Bluebeard (1987), p. 144“If you believe,” he shouted to them, “clap your hands; don’t let Tink die.”
To those who have an active belief, reasoned proofs are needless and probably useless.
Anthony the Great251–357Athanasius, Life of Antony (c. 360), ch. 77The Bedouin could not look for God within him: he was too sure that he was within God.
T. E. Lawrence1888–1935Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922)I’m wary of faith outside of actions. I’m wary of religiosity that ignores the wider world.
Bonoborn 1960Rolling Stone interview (2005)
L. P. Jacks1860–1955“Religious Perplexities” (1922), his Hibbert Lecture.
Joseph Joubert1754–1824The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, tr. Paul Auster (1983)
Charles Darwin1809–1882The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (1887), volume II, chapter VII: “The ‘Origin of Species’”, pages 311-312; letter to Asa Gray (22 May 1860)
Harry Emerson Fosdick1878–1969On Being Fit to Live With: Sermons on Post-War Christianity (1946)I was thirteen when I had a Voice from God for my help and guidance.
JAJoan of Arc1412–1431Second public examination (22 February 1431)
Fyodor Dostoyevsky1821–1881Letter to Mme. N. D. Fonvisin (1854), in Letters of Fyodor Michailovitch Dostoevsky to his Family and Friends (1914), trans. Ethel Colburn Mayne, Letter XXI, p. 71
