--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening…" description: "\"Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch, which ought to be applied as sparingly as possible. I dislike the stuff. I do not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/anonymous-1_atheist_faith-to-my-mind-is-a-stiffening-process_1466013.jpg" --- # Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of… ![“Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch, which ought to be applied as sparingly as possible. I dislike the stuff. I do not believe in it, for its own sake, at all... My lawgivers are Erasmus and Montaigne, not Moses and St Paul. My temple stands not upon Mount Moriah…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/anonymous-1_atheist_faith-to-my-mind-is-a-stiffening-process_1466013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/anonymous-1_atheist_faith-to-my-mind-is-a-stiffening-process_1466013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/anonymous-1_atheist_faith-to-my-mind-is-a-stiffening-process_1466013.jpg) > “Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch, which ought to be applied as sparingly as possible. I dislike the stuff. I do not believe in it, for its own sake, at all... My lawgivers are Erasmus and Montaigne, not Moses and St Paul. My temple stands not upon Mount Moriah but in the Elysian Field where even the immoral are admitted. My motto is 'Lord, I disbelieve - help thou my unbelief.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques faith as a mental crutch, urging minimal reliance and favoring rational skepticism over religious doctrine. **In simple terms:** Faith is seen as a mental stiffener that should be used sparingly. Key Takeaway Question skepticism over avoid blind faith. Themes skepticism religion philosophy individualism Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type aphilosophical skeptical inspirational When to use this quote - personal belief formation - public discourse - ethical decision making - education - political debate Key Concepts rationalism existentialism humanism Questions to Reflect On - Does questioning faith strengthen personal integrity? - How does society benefit from shared beliefs? A Different Perspective Faith can provide comfort and community, which the quote overlooks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Disbelieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbelieve/) [Dislike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dislike/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-mind-2655447/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Immoral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses/) [Motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motto/) [My motto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-motto/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [St Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/st-paul/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) [Thou Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-unbelief-1431913/) [Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief/) ## Related quotes > [Lord I disbelieve - help thou my unbelief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/lord-i-disbelieve-help-thou-my-unbelief/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/lord-i-believe-help-thou-mine-unbelief/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Mark 9:24 Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief. The context of this scripture teaches us so much”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-nicole-ross/mark-9-24-lord-i-believe-help-thou-my-unbelief-the-context-of-this/) [Rebecca Nicole Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-nicole-ross/) > [We need faith and the mind of the Lord Jesus to recognize something of lasting value in even our most ordinary tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-need-faith-and-the-mind-of-the-lord-jesus-to-recognize-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My law-givers are Erasmus and Montaigne, not Moses and St Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/my-law-givers-are-erasmus-and-montaigne-not-moses-and-st-paul/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [I do not believe in the creed professed by any church that I know of. Each of these churches accuse the other of unbelief;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/i-do-not-believe-in-the-creed-professed-by-any-church-that-i-know-of/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I firmly disbelieve that one has to be a tortured soul to write good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-firmly-disbelieve-that-one-has-to-be-a-tortured-soul-to-write-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a rule we disbelieve all the facts and theories for which we have no use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-a-rule-we-disbelieve-all-the-facts-and-theories-for-which-we-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As C. S. Lewis so famously said in The Screwtape Letters, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-c-s-lewis-so-famously-said-in-the-screwtape-letters-there-are-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How convinced are you that man was created in the image of God when you can't see the image of God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-convinced-are-you-that-man-was-created-in-the-image-of-god-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-for-those-who-disbelieve-their-deeds-are-like-a-mirage-in-a-desert/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/faith-to-my-mind-is-a-stiffening-process-a-sort-of-mental-starch/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [How do we receive the highest mystery of Divine love to us ? the mystery of the Christian faith? With our mind, heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/how-do-we-receive-the-highest-mystery-of-divine-love-to-us-the/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Faith is mind at its best, its bravest, and its fiercest. Faith is thought become poetry, and absorbing into itself the soul's great, passions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-henry-parkhurst/faith-is-mind-at-its-best-its-bravest-and-its-fiercest-faith-is/) [Charles Henry Parkhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-henry-parkhurst/) > [Faith, remember it can not be seen, nor can it be held. As long as you keep faith in your mind, body, & your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/faith-remember-it-can-not-be-seen-nor-can-it-be-held-as-long-as-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. 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Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch, which ought to be applied as sparingly as possible. I dislike the stuff. I do not believe in it, for its own sake, at all... My lawgivers are Erasmus and Montaigne, not Moses and St Paul. 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