--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I ask myself how to judge that this…" description: "\"“If I ask myself how to judge that this question is more urgent than that, I reply that one judges by the actions it entails. I have never seen anyone ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/albert-camus-47_galileo_if-i-ask-myself-how-to-judge-that-this-q_2701890.jpg" --- # If I ask myself how to judge that this question is more… ![“If I ask myself how to judge that this question is more urgent than that, I reply that one judges by the actions it entails. I have never seen anyone die for the ontological argument. Galileo, who held a scientific truth of great importance, abjured it with the greatest ease as soon as it…” quote by Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/albert-camus-47_galileo_if-i-ask-myself-how-to-judge-that-this-q_2701890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/albert-camus-47_galileo_if-i-ask-myself-how-to-judge-that-this-q_2701890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/albert-camus-47_galileo_if-i-ask-myself-how-to-judge-that-this-q_2701890.jpg) > ““If I ask myself how to judge that this question is more urgent than that, I reply that one judges by the actions it entails. I have never seen anyone die for the ontological argument. Galileo, who held a scientific truth of great importance, abjured it with the greatest ease as soon as it endangered his life. In a certain sense, he did right.”” [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judgment should be based on practical consequences rather than abstract theory; actions determine urgency. **In simple terms:** Decide by what actions follow, not by abstract arguments. Key Takeaway Focus on practical impact. Themes ethics pragmatism decision making Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - policy making - personal decisions - risk assessment Key Concepts consequentialism ontological debate Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize tasks based on outcomes? - What actions would change your judgment? A Different Perspective Abstract arguments may lack real-world relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument Galileo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument-galileo-2740134/) [Die Ontological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-ontological-2115603/) [Galileo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galileo/) [Galileo Held](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galileo-held-2740135/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Ontological Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ontological-argument-961340/) ## Related quotes > [“I have never seen anyone die for the ontological argument.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-have-never-seen-anyone-die-for-the-ontological-argument/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Anselm must have been out of his mind to think that the question ‘Does God exist?’ is a question about a predicate. His ontological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-riva/anselm-must-have-been-out-of-his-mind-to-think-that-the-question-does/) [Jim Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-riva/) > [“We can formulate Plantinga’s version of the ontological argument as follows: 1) It is possible that a maximally great being exists. 2) If it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lane-craig/we-can-formulate-plantinga-s-version-of-the-ontological-argument-as/) [William Lane Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lane-craig/) > [Great God in Boots! – the ontological argument is sound!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/great-god-in-boots-the-ontological-argument-is-sound/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“The Ontological Argument shows us that in order for God to be maximally great, He must be morally perfect. Being all loving is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/the-ontological-argument-shows-us-that-in-order-for-god-to-be/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [Anthropology found its Galileo in Rivers, its Newton in Mauss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-levi-strauss/anthropology-found-its-galileo-in-rivers-its-newton-in-mauss/) [Claude Levi-Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-levi-strauss/) > [“So this is where all the vapid talk about the 'soul' of the universe is actually headed. Once the hard-won principles of reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/so-this-is-where-all-the-vapid-talk-about-the-soul-of-the-universe-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Galileo was challenged because he declared a theory to be a fact and argued with the Church about the genuine meaning of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/galileo-was-challenged-because-he-declared-a-theory-to-be-a-fact-and/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [I live on the other side of Copernicus and Galileo; I can no longer conceive of God as sort of above the sky, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-live-on-the-other-side-of-copernicus-and-galileo-i-can-no-longer/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [We owe a huge debt to Galileo for emancipating us all from the stupid belief in an Earth-centered or man-centered (let alone God-centered) system.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-owe-a-huge-debt-to-galileo-for-emancipating-us-all-from-the-stupid/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [A man does not attain the status of Galileo merely because he is persecuted; he must also be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/a-man-does-not-attain-the-status-of-galileo-merely-because-he-is/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“The biblical account of the origin of the cosmos in Genesis, for example, posits that a god created the physical universe particularly with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-maudlin/the-biblical-account-of-the-origin-of-the-cosmos-in-genesis-for/) [Tim Maudlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-maudlin/) > [Galileo was no idiot. Only an idiot could believe that science requires martyrdom - that may be necessary in religion, but in time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/galileo-was-no-idiot-only-an-idiot-could-believe-that-science/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-galileo-had-said-in-verse-that-the-world-moved-the-inquisition/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) ## More by Albert Camus > [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Having been, not only mutilated in our country, wounded in our very flesh, but also divested of our most beautiful images, for you gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/having-been-not-only-mutilated-in-our-country-wounded-in-our-very/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The best are led to make greater demands upon themselves. As for those who succumb, they did not deserve to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-best-are-led-to-make-greater-demands-upon-themselves-as-for-those/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“Then he asked me if I wasn’t interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/then-he-asked-me-if-i-wasn-t-interested-in-a-change-of-life-i-said/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Life is meaningless, but worth living, provided you recognize it's meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/life-is-meaningless-but-worth-living-provided-you-recognize-it-s/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Thinking of the future, establishing aims for oneself, having preferences-all this presupposes a belief in freedom, even if one occasionally ascertains that one doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/thinking-of-the-future-establishing-aims-for-oneself-having/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-explained-to-him-however-that-my-nature-was-such-that-my-physical/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-only-way-to-deal-with-an-unfree-world-is-to-become-so-absolutely/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“We love people not because for good they did for us, but for good we did for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-love-people-not-because-for-good-they-did-for-us-but-for-good-we/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You have so much inside you, and the noblest happiness of all. Don’t just wait for a man to come along. That’s the mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/you-have-so-much-inside-you-and-the-noblest-happiness-of-all-don-t/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterilize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-desire-for-possession-is-insatiable-to-such-a-point-that-it-can/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) [Explore all 1,600 Albert Camus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More Galileo quotes > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [If Galileo had said in verse that the world moved, the inquisition might have let him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/if-galileo-had-said-in-verse-that-the-world-moved-the-inquisition/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Galileo was no idiot. Only an idiot could believe that science requires martyrdom - that may be necessary in religion, but in time a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/galileo-was-no-idiot-only-an-idiot-could-believe-that-science/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [“The biblical account of the origin of the cosmos in Genesis, for example, posits that a god created the physical universe particularly with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-maudlin/the-biblical-account-of-the-origin-of-the-cosmos-in-genesis-for/) [Tim Maudlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-maudlin/) > [A man does not attain the status of Galileo merely because he is persecuted; he must also be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/a-man-does-not-attain-the-status-of-galileo-merely-because-he-is/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [We owe a huge debt to Galileo for emancipating us all from the stupid belief in an Earth-centered or man-centered (let alone God-centered) system.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-owe-a-huge-debt-to-galileo-for-emancipating-us-all-from-the-stupid/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I live on the other side of Copernicus and Galileo; I can no longer conceive of God as sort of above the sky, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-live-on-the-other-side-of-copernicus-and-galileo-i-can-no-longer/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Galileo was challenged because he declared a theory to be a fact and argued with the Church about the genuine meaning of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/galileo-was-challenged-because-he-declared-a-theory-to-be-a-fact-and/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [“So this is where all the vapid talk about the 'soul' of the universe is actually headed. Once the hard-won principles of reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/so-this-is-where-all-the-vapid-talk-about-the-soul-of-the-universe-is/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Anthropology found its Galileo in Rivers, its Newton in Mauss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-levi-strauss/anthropology-found-its-galileo-in-rivers-its-newton-in-mauss/) [Claude Levi-Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-levi-strauss/) > [“Galileo once wrote, "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/galileo-once-wrote-you-cannot-teach-a-man-anything-you-can-only-help/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [How fortunate for civilization, that Beethoven, Michelangelo, Galileo and Faraday were not required by law to attend schools where their total personalities would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/how-fortunate-for-civilization-that-beethoven-michelangelo-galileo/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [“Galileo got into trouble because he maintained that since the new discoveries seemed to contradict scripture, those passages of scripture should be reinterpreted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-coren/galileo-got-into-trouble-because-he-maintained-that-since-the-new/) [Michael Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-coren/) > [“You and Galileo,” I said. “Didn’t he throw his balls off the leaning tower?” Quirk Said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/you-and-galileo-i-said-didn-t-he-throw-his-balls-off-the-leaning/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Misunderstood! It is a right fool's word. Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/misunderstood-it-is-a-right-fool-s-word-is-it-so-bad-then-to-be/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 88 Galileo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galileo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I ask myself how to judge that this question is more urgent than that, I reply that one judges by the actions it entails. I have never seen anyone die for the ontological argument. Galileo, who held a scientific truth of great importance, abjured it with the greatest ease as soon as it endangered his life. 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