--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faith is believing what we cannot prove." description: "\"Faith is believing what we cannot prove.\" — Alfred Lord Tennyson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png" --- # Faith is believing what we cannot prove. ![“Faith is believing what we cannot prove.” quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png) > “Faith is believing what we cannot prove.” [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith involves trusting in something beyond proof, embracing belief without empirical evidence. **In simple terms:** Faith is believing without proof. Key Takeaway Cultivate trust in unseen possibilities. Themes spirituality belief uncertainty philosophy Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - religious practice - creative inspiration Key Concepts faith existentialism trust Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance faith and reason? - When is belief without proof valuable? A Different Perspective Blind faith can lead to dogmatism or ignore critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Faith is believing things by definition, which are not justified by reason. If it were justified by reason, it wouldn't be faith. It would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mcginn/faith-is-believing-things-by-definition-which-are-not-justified-by/) [Colin McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mcginn/) > [Believing is something that you have grown up with Believing in fairy tales Believing in God Believing in the devil Believing in faith Believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/believing-is-something-that-you-have-grown-up-with-believing-in-fairy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Belief in God is an act of faith. But so is believing our existence is simply the result of chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/belief-in-god-is-an-act-of-faith-but-so-is-believing-our-existence-is/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Faith is believing that Christ is what he is said to be, and that he will do what he has promised to do, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/faith-is-believing-that-christ-is-what-he-is-said-to-be-and-that-he/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miracle-on-34th-street/faith-is-believing-in-something-when-common-sense-tells-you-not-to/) Miracle On 34th Street > [Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/faith-is-not-believing-that-god-can-it-is-knowing-that-god-will/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Hope is wishing something would happen,Faith is believing something will happen..Courage is making something happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ur-my-destiny/hope-is-wishing-something-would-happen-faith-is-believing-something/) Ur My Destiny > [When you understand how the mind-brain functions together, you know that faith, which is believing before seeing, is the natural process of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/when-you-understand-how-the-mind-brain-functions-together-you-know/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-seaton/faith-is-believing-in-things-when-common-sense-tells-you-not-to/) [George Seaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-seaton/) > [Hope is wishing something will happen - faith is believing something will happen - happiness is hearing that it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/hope-is-wishing-something-will-happen-faith-is-believing-something/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [At its root, this is what faith is. It is not believing in God. It's believing God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/at-its-root-this-is-what-faith-is-it-is-not-believing-in-god-it-s/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [What is hope? Hope is wishing for a thing to come true; faith is believing that it will come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/what-is-hope-hope-is-wishing-for-a-thing-to-come-true-faith-is/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [There is nothing anti-intellectual in the leap of faith, for faith is not believing without proof but trusting without reservation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/there-is-nothing-anti-intellectual-in-the-leap-of-faith-for-faith-is/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [There are three means of believing--by inspiration, by reason, and by custom. Christianity, which is the only rational institution, does yet admit none for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/there-are-three-means-of-believing-by-inspiration-by-reason-and-by/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [Faith is the accepting of what God gives. Faith is the believing what God says. Faith is the trusting to what Jesus has done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/faith-is-the-accepting-of-what-god-gives-faith-is-the-believing-what/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) ## More by Alfred Lord Tennyson > [Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Unfaith is aught is want of faith in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-and-unfaith-can-ne-er-be-equal-powers-unfaith-is-aught-is-want/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/there-is-sweet-music-here-that-softer-falls-than-petals-from-blown/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I do but sing because I must; and pipe but as the linnets sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-do-but-sing-because-i-must-and-pipe-but-as-the-linnets-sing/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Here about the beach I wandered, nourishing a youth sublime With the fairy tales of science, and the long result of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/here-about-the-beach-i-wandered-nourishing-a-youth-sublime-with-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [So now I have sworn to bury All this dead body of hate I feel so free and so clear By the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/so-now-i-have-sworn-to-bury-all-this-dead-body-of-hate-i-feel-so-free/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The jingling of the guinea helps the hurt that Honor feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-jingling-of-the-guinea-helps-the-hurt-that-honor-feels/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I come from haunts of coot and hern, I make a sudden sally And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-come-from-haunts-of-coot-and-hern-i-make-a-sudden-sally-and-sparkle/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/willows-whiten-aspens-quiver-little-breezes-dusk-and-shiver/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/cast-all-your-cares-on-god-that-anchor-holds/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Such a one do I remember, whom to look at was love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/such-a-one-do-i-remember-whom-to-look-at-was-love/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [If Nature put not forth her power About the opening of the flower, Who is it that could live an hour?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/if-nature-put-not-forth-her-power-about-the-opening-of-the-flower-who/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [As the husband is the wife is; thou art mated with a clown, As the grossness of his nature will have weight to drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/as-the-husband-is-the-wife-is-thou-art-mated-with-a-clown-as-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Sin is too stupid to see beyond itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/sin-is-too-stupid-to-see-beyond-itself/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Thou madest man, he knows not why, he thinks he was not made to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/thou-madest-man-he-knows-not-why-he-thinks-he-was-not-made-to-die/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) [Explore all 501 Alfred Lord Tennyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Faith is believing what we cannot prove.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Lord Tennyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_believe_faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove_2457644.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Faith is believing what we cannot prove.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alfred Lord Tennyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Faith is believing what we cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-is-believing-what-we-cannot-prove/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```