--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can't afford to be without God,\"…" description: "\"“We can't afford to be without God,\" Feliks continued. \"Even if he doesn't exist, we have to hold on to him. Because if we don't, then how are we to co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/alexander-mccall-smith-372_convince_we-can-t-afford-to-be-without-god-feliks_329933.png" --- # We can't afford to be without God," Feliks continued… ![“We can't afford to be without God," Feliks continued. "Even if he doesn't exist, we have to hold on to him. Because if we don't, then how are we to convince ourselves that we have to go on with this fight? If you take God out of it, then right and justice become small, human things. And weak…” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/alexander-mccall-smith-372_convince_we-can-t-afford-to-be-without-god-feliks_329933.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/alexander-mccall-smith-372_convince_we-can-t-afford-to-be-without-god-feliks_329933.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/alexander-mccall-smith-372_convince_we-can-t-afford-to-be-without-god-feliks_329933.png) > ““We can't afford to be without God," Feliks continued. "Even if he doesn't exist, we have to hold on to him. Because if we don't, then how are we to convince ourselves that we have to go on with this fight? If you take God out of it, then right and justice become small, human things. And weak things, too.”” [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even without belief in God, people cling to the idea for moral guidance, suggesting faith can be a pragmatic tool for justice. **In simple terms:** People hold onto God for moral reasons even if they doubt his existence. Key Takeaway Use shared values to guide actions. Themes faith morality existentialism Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - personal crisis - community building - ethical debates Key Concepts pragmatism ethical frameworks Questions to Reflect On - What moral compass guides you without religion? - Can society function without a unifying belief? A Different Perspective Relying on belief may ignore secular moral foundations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) ## Related quotes > [The two exist because of the One, But hold not even to this One; When the one Consciousness -is not disturbed, The ten thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sengcan/the-two-exist-because-of-the-one-but-hold-not-even-to-this-one-when/) [Sengcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sengcan/) > [So the real question confronting you now is: How can you afford not to be in God's Word?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/so-the-real-question-confronting-you-now-is-how-can-you-afford-not-to/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Life is short. You can't afford to put off what God has put in your heart. You don't have time to live with things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/life-is-short-you-can-t-afford-to-put-off-what-god-has-put-in-your/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“To deny the battle is unwise. To believe that I can fight it without God is insane. To actually do so is suicidal. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-deny-the-battle-is-unwise-to-believe-that-i-can-fight-it-without/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“When you fight with God, your warring against your pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/when-you-fight-with-god-your-warring-against-your-pride/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God's help, go forward to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/united-in-this-determination-and-with-unshakable-faith-in-the-cause/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“I wish we had the technology to fight God on an equal basis. To beard him in his den. To fight back for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-wish-we-had-the-technology-to-fight-god-on-an-equal-basis-to-beard/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“MY PROCESS I got bullied quite a bit as a kid, so I learned how to take a punch and how to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-neese/my-process-i-got-bullied-quite-a-bit-as-a-kid-so-i-learned-how-to/) [Zach Neese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-neese/) > [If you think you are strong or stubborn try to fight God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdallah/if-you-think-you-are-strong-or-stubborn-try-to-fight-god/) [Abdallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdallah/) > [Theist and atheist: the fight between them is as to whether God shall be called God or shall have some other name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/theist-and-atheist-the-fight-between-them-is-as-to-whether-god-shall/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“So if we know no place, no job, no marriage, no child is going to fulfill us perfectly, we can make the choice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-allen/so-if-we-know-no-place-no-job-no-marriage-no-child-is-going-to/) [Jennie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-allen/) > [“Those who fight against God's people are fighting against God, and fighters against God will not prevail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchtower-bible-and-tract-society-of-jehovah-s-witnesses/those-who-fight-against-god-s-people-are-fighting-against-god-and/) Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah's Witnesses > [It is well known that we fight in God's cause... but unless God helps us by a miracle the English, who have faster and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-rodger/it-is-well-known-that-we-fight-in-god-s-cause-but-unless-god-helps-us/) [Nicholas Rodger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-rodger/) > [“My attraction to heavy church-goers has more to do with me wanting to see who'd win the fight; me or god”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/my-attraction-to-heavy-church-goers-has-more-to-do-with-me-wanting-to/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) > [y feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/y-feelings-as-a-christian-points-me-to-my-lord-and-savior-as-a/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) ## More by Alexander McCall Smith > [“old-fashioned, gentle Scottish physician, unmoved by the considerations of profit and personal gain that could so disfigure medicine. That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“She had not made a lot of money, but she had not made a loss, and she had been happy and entertained. That counted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/she-had-not-made-a-lot-of-money-but-she-had-not-made-a-loss-and-she/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [And that, in a way, was the burden of being a philosopher: one knew what one had to do, but it was so often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-that-in-a-way-was-the-burden-of-being-a-philosopher-one-knew-what/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“To use strong language, she thought, was a sign of bad temper and lack of concern for others. Such people were not clever or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/to-use-strong-language-she-thought-was-a-sign-of-bad-temper-and-lack/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Men are very sensitive, Mma Makutsi. You would not always think it to look at them, but they are. They do not like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/men-are-very-sensitive-mma-makutsi-you-would-not-always-think-it-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He is a good man, but even a good man can fall for a glamorous woman. That is well known.” “That is very well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-is-a-good-man-but-even-a-good-man-can-fall-for-a-glamorous-woman/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“And then the second thing you have to do is go and see your son. That is a duty of love, Andrew. It's as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-then-the-second-thing-you-have-to-do-is-go-and-see-your-son-that/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Because laughs never die away entirely,” said Jamie. “At least, if you believe in Marconi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/because-laughs-never-die-away-entirely-said-jamie-at-least-if-you/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“The trouble with having a conscience, she said to herself, is that it never sleeps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/the-trouble-with-having-a-conscience-she-said-to-herself-is-that-it/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“And if there's bad behaviour," Mma Potokwane went on. "If there's bad behaviour, the quickest way of stopping it is to give more love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-if-there-s-bad-behaviour-mma-potokwane-went-on-if-there-s-bad/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“We never realise how transparent we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/we-never-realise-how-transparent-we-are/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Has he not got a wife back wherever he comes from? Is there no wife to say, ‘You must not go off and visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/has-he-not-got-a-wife-back-wherever-he-comes-from-is-there-no-wife-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He looked at her in the darkness, at this woman who was everything to him-mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to eat, pumpkins, chicken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-looked-at-her-in-the-darkness-at-this-woman-who-was-everything-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“It is because you are generous in spirit; and may I be like that; may I become like you—which unrealistic wish, to become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/it-is-because-you-are-generous-in-spirit-and-may-i-be-like-that-may-i/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni,” she asked, “do you think that our souls grow as we get older?” He did not answer immediately, but when he did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mr-j-l-b-matekoni-she-asked-do-you-think-that-our-souls-grow-as-we/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) [Explore all 628 Alexander McCall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## More Convince quotes > [“Sometimes we want something to be true so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/sometimes-we-want-something-to-be-true-so-badly-that-we-convince/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The people on the QVC shopping channel convince me that life is worth living. They see the good in everything. People who go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/the-people-on-the-qvc-shopping-channel-convince-me-that-life-is-worth/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [“What can I say to convince you the Houses of Parliament dissolve night after night to become the fluid dream of the Thames? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/what-can-i-say-to-convince-you-the-houses-of-parliament-dissolve/) [Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/) > [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“If you can convince yourself, you can convince the other fellow,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/if-you-can-convince-yourself-you-can-convince-the-other-fellow/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [Don't lie to yourself about what you can't or can achieve. Convince yourself on a realistic level that you can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lie-to-yourself-about-what-you-can-t-or-can-achieve-convince/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't ever let anyone convince you that your imagination is wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/don-t-ever-let-anyone-convince-you-that-your-imagination-is-wrong/) [Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/) > [It's hard to convince your agents and managers to do theater, because it's not as financially rewarding and it takes up a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/it-s-hard-to-convince-your-agents-and-managers-to-do-theater-because/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I guess that is the strange part of the human brain that people have studied for eons - is hatred and self-hatred. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-guess-that-is-the-strange-part-of-the-human-brain-that-people-have/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [I knew I shouldn't like him cause I know it's not working, and everybody tells me that, and I convince myself I don't... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-knew-i-shouldn-t-like-him-cause-i-know-it-s-not-working-and/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [The statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-statesmen-will-invent-cheap-lies-putting-the-blame-upon-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) Browse all 1,431 Convince quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We can't afford to be without God,\" Feliks continued. \"Even if he doesn't exist, we have to hold on to him. 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