Agnostics Quote by Amitav Ghosh
“The government to you is what God is to agnostics--only to be invoked when your own well being is at stake.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh, 1988
People turn to higher powers only when personal stakes demand it, revealing conditional faith.
In simple terms: Faith is invoked when personal benefit is at risk.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when motives are self‑serving.
Themes
faith
self‑interest
conditional belief
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political decisions
- personal crises
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When do you seek higher authority for personal gain?
- How does this affect trust?
A Different Perspective
Faith can be genuine beyond self‑interest.
![“As God can protect his people under the greatest despotism, so the utmost civil liberty is no safety to them without the immediate protection of his Almighty arm. I fear that Christians in this country have too great a confidence in political institutions . . . [rather] than of the government of…” quote by Alexander Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f44/alexander-carson-110017_freedom_as-god-can-protect-his-people-under-the_1276171.jpg)
![“[C]apitalist trade and industry cannot thrive without access to military and political power. State interventions have always been critical to its advancement.” quote by Amitav Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f42/amitav-ghosh-16648_advancement_c-apitalist-trade-and-industry-cannot-th_612543.jpg)
