--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on…" description: "\"Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on the whole, is doubt; We cannot believe by proof: but could we believe without?\" — Algernon Charles Swinburne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg" --- # Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on the whole, is… ![“Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on the whole, is doubt; We cannot believe by proof: but could we believe without?” quote by Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg) > “Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on the whole, is doubt; We cannot believe by proof: but could we believe without?” [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith and doubt are intertwined; belief may exist without proof, yet proof can also inspire faith. **In simple terms:** Faith and doubt coexist; belief can be unproven. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty while seeking truth. Themes faith doubt belief proof philosophy epistemology Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal introspection - academic debate - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile faith with evidence? - When is doubt constructive? A Different Perspective Absolute certainty is rare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-doubt/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Take faith, for example. For many people in our world, the opposite of faith is doubt. The goal, then, within this understanding, is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/take-faith-for-example-for-many-people-in-our-world-the-opposite-of/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Don't doubt your faith; doubt your doubts for they are unreliable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/don-t-doubt-your-faith-doubt-your-doubts-for-they-are-unreliable/) [T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/) > [There is faith in every serious doubt, namely, the faith in the truth as such, even if the only truth we can express is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-faith-in-every-serious-doubt-namely-the-faith-in-the-truth/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [If people would stop doubting their faith, they would doubt their mind. But they do doubt their faith, and wont doubt that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/if-people-would-stop-doubting-their-faith-they-would-doubt-their-mind/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [Life is doubt, and faith without doubt is nothing but death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/life-is-doubt-and-faith-without-doubt-is-nothing-but-death/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [I have no doubt that faith is only pure when it does not negate the faith of another. I have no doubt that evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-have-no-doubt-that-faith-is-only-pure-when-it-does-not-negate-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [For every trip there will be worry, every worry there will be faith, for every bit of faith there will be doubt, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-hoff/for-every-trip-there-will-be-worry-every-worry-there-will-be-faith/) Abigail Van Hoff > [Faith is the main thing. That's kind of why I'm like here in Hollywood: to be like a light, a testimony to say God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/faith-is-the-main-thing-that-s-kind-of-why-i-m-like-here-in-hollywood/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [“you just had to be still and have faith, that was the main thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-dodge/you-just-had-to-be-still-and-have-faith-that-was-the-main-thing/) [Jim Dodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-dodge/) > [There Lives More Faith in Honest Doubt, Believe Me, Than Half the Creeds. - Alfred, Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/there-lives-more-faith-in-honest-doubt-believe-me-than-half-the/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [I have, I believe, the courage to doubt everything; I have, I believe, the courage to fight against everything; but I do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-i-believe-the-courage-to-doubt-everything-i-have-i-believe-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [He whose faith never doubted, may justly doubt of his faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/he-whose-faith-never-doubted-may-justly-doubt-of-his-faith/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [“There can be no faith without doubt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/there-can-be-no-faith-without-doubt/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I believe in doubt. I believe in keeping clear of believers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hays/i-believe-in-doubt-i-believe-in-keeping-clear-of-believers/) Donald Hays > [In love we often doubt what we most believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/in-love-we-often-doubt-what-we-most-believe/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More by Algernon Charles Swinburne > [I shall sleep, and move with the moving ships, Change as the winds change, veer in the tide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/i-shall-sleep-and-move-with-the-moving-ships-change-as-the-winds/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Marvellous mercies and infinite love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/marvellous-mercies-and-infinite-love/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [She knows not loves that kissed her She knows not where. Art thou the ghost, my sister, White sister there, Am I the ghost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/she-knows-not-loves-that-kissed-her-she-knows-not-where-art-thou-the/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [A little soul scarce fledged for earth Takes wing with heaven again for goal, Even while we hailed as fresh from birth A little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/a-little-soul-scarce-fledged-for-earth-takes-wing-with-heaven-again/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [While three men hold together, the kingdoms are less by three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/while-three-men-hold-together-the-kingdoms-are-less-by-three/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Body and spirit are twins: God only knows which is which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/body-and-spirit-are-twins-god-only-knows-which-is-which/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Fruits fail and love dies and time ranges;Thou art fed with perpetual breath, and alive after infinite changes,And fresh from the kisses of death,Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/fruits-fail-and-love-dies-and-time-ranges-thou-art-fed-with-perpetual/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [“As the dawn loves the sunlight that must cease Ere dawn again may rise and pass in peace; Must die that she being dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/as-the-dawn-loves-the-sunlight-that-must-cease-ere-dawn-again-may/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [There is no safety-net to protect against attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/there-is-no-safety-net-to-protect-against-attraction/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Sorrow, on wing through the world for ever, Here and there for awhile would borrow Rest, if rest might haply deliver Sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/sorrow-on-wing-through-the-world-for-ever-here-and-there-for-awhile/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [“Love, that is first and last of all things made, The light that has the living world for shade, The spirit that for temporal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/love-that-is-first-and-last-of-all-things-made-the-light-that-has-the/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [His life is a watch or a vision Between a sleep and a sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/his-life-is-a-watch-or-a-vision-between-a-sleep-and-a-sleep/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [“The half-brained creature to whom books are other than living things may see with the eyes of a bat and draw with the fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/the-half-brained-creature-to-whom-books-are-other-than-living-things/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [The highest spiritual quality, the noblest property of mind a man can have, is this of loyalty ... a man with no loyalty in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/the-highest-spiritual-quality-the-noblest-property-of-mind-a-man-can/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [To wipe off the froth of falsehood from the foaming lips of inebriated virtue, when fresh from the sexless orgies of morality and reeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/to-wipe-off-the-froth-of-falsehood-from-the-foaming-lips-of/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) [Explore all 145 Algernon Charles Swinburne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) ## 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": "Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on the whole, is doubt; We cannot believe by proof: but could we believe without?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Algernon Charles Swinburne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on-the-whole-is-doubt-we-cannot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on-the-whole-is-doubt-we-cannot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_believe_doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on_2600270.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Doubt is faith in the main: but faith, on the whole, is doubt; We cannot believe by proof: but could we…” — Algernon Charles Swinburne", "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": "Algernon Charles Swinburne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Doubt is faith in the main:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on-the-whole-is-doubt-we-cannot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/doubt-is-faith-in-the-main-but-faith-on-the-whole-is-doubt-we-cannot/#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 } } ] } ```