This perpetual fear, always accompanying mankind in the…
““This perpetual fear, always accompanying mankind in the ignorance of causes, as it were in the dark, must needs have for object something. And therefore when there is nothing to be seen, there is nothing to accuse, either of their good, or evil fortune, but some power, or agent invisible: in which sense perhaps it was, that some of the old poets said, that the gods were at first created by human fear: which spoken of the gods, that is to say, of the many gods of the Gentiles, is very true.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human beings create deities to explain unknown forces, projecting fear onto invisible agents when lacking evidence.
In simple terms: People invent gods to fill gaps of knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Question unknown by naming unknown forces.
Themes
fear
belief
mythology
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- religious debates
- personal reflection
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
anthropology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What fears drive your belief in unseen powers?
- How does naming the unknown affect your worldview?
A Different Perspective
Attributing unknown phenomena to gods can hinder scientific inquiry.