--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religions are like fireflies. They…" description: "\"Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.\" — Arthur Schopenhauer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/arthur-schopenhauer-226_agnostic_religions-are-like-fireflies-they-requir_3134515.jpg" --- # Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in… ![“Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/arthur-schopenhauer-226_agnostic_religions-are-like-fireflies-they-requir_3134515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/arthur-schopenhauer-226_agnostic_religions-are-like-fireflies-they-requir_3134515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/arthur-schopenhauer-226_agnostic_religions-are-like-fireflies-they-requir_3134515.jpg) > “Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.” [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religions need hardship or ignorance to thrive; they flourish when people lack clarity. **In simple terms:** Religion thrives in darkness. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of uncertainty. Themes religion human nature light anddarkness Mood thoughtful philosophical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - cultural crises - personal doubt - spiritual searching Key Concepts existentialism psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - Why do people turn to faith in hardship? - Can enlightenment replace religious comfort? A Different Perspective Not all faith is dependent on ignorance; many seek truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Darkness Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness-order-5558207/) [Firefly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firefly/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religions/) [Religions Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religions-like-1361807/) [Require Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/require-darkness-1926827/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [So we're all living spirit. It's not about isms and schims or religions. Religions are almost like political institutions, but the heart of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/so-we-re-all-living-spirit-it-s-not-about-isms-and-schims-or/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [All people have religions. It's like we have religion receptors built into our brain cells, or something, and we'll latch onto anything that'll fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/all-people-have-religions-it-s-like-we-have-religion-receptors-built/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [All religions are like different cars all moving in the same direction. People who don't see it have no light in their hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/all-religions-are-like-different-cars-all-moving-in-the-same/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Crime and vice generally require darkness for prowling. They disappear when light plays upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/crime-and-vice-generally-require-darkness-for-prowling-they-disappear/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [For, as you know, religions are like glow-worms; they shine only when it is dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/for-as-you-know-religions-are-like-glow-worms-they-shine-only-when-it/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“All religions are guesswork”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/all-religions-are-guesswork/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I'm an agnostic in the truest sense of the word. I think about these things - I grew up Roman Catholic, I've been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-d-moore/i-m-an-agnostic-in-the-truest-sense-of-the-word-i-think-about-these/) [Ronald D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-d-moore/) > [“All religions are man-made; God has not yet revealed himself beyond doubt to anybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/all-religions-are-man-made-god-has-not-yet-revealed-himself-beyond/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“God has not yet revealed himself to no one in no unclear terms. Religions are attempts to find him; on that level they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/god-has-not-yet-revealed-himself-to-no-one-in-no-unclear-terms/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Early religions were like muddy ponds with lots of foliage. Concealed there, the fish of the soul could splash and feed. Eventually, however, religions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/early-religions-were-like-muddy-ponds-with-lots-of-foliage-concealed/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [No religion is suddenly rejected by any people; it is rather gradually outgrown. None sees a religion die; dead religions are like dead languages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/no-religion-is-suddenly-rejected-by-any-people-it-is-rather-gradually/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [All religions are like precious pearls strung on the golden thread of divinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samael-aun-weor/all-religions-are-like-precious-pearls-strung-on-the-golden-thread-of/) [Samael Aun Weor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samael-aun-weor/) > [Religions are like pills, which must be swallowed whole without chewing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/religions-are-like-pills-which-must-be-swallowed-whole-without-chewing/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“Religions are like women, for neither when they are youthful need scents or fard in order to be surrounded by humble adorers who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-roydis/religions-are-like-women-for-neither-when-they-are-youthful-need/) [Emmanuel Roydis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-roydis/) > [“Kindness has no religion. Religions are like narrow tracks but kindness is like an open sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/kindness-has-no-religion-religions-are-like-narrow-tracks-but/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) ## More by Arthur Schopenhauer > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“In accordance with such zeal, by reducing the external world to a matter of faith, he wanted merely to open a little door for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-accordance-with-such-zeal-by-reducing-the-external-world-to-a/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [That human life must be some kind of mistake is sufficiently proved by the simple observation that man is a compound of needs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/that-human-life-must-be-some-kind-of-mistake-is-sufficiently-proved/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Imitation and custom are the spring of almost all human action. The cause of it is that men fight shy of all and any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/imitation-and-custom-are-the-spring-of-almost-all-human-action-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [ \[T\]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between-man-and-man-ought-to-be-not/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The eternal being..., as it lives in us, also lives in every animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-eternal-being-as-it-lives-in-us-also-lives-in-every-animal/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [there are very few who can think, but every man wants to have an opinion; and what remains but to take it ready-made from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/there-are-very-few-who-can-think-but-every-man-wants-to-have-an/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [It is not what things are objectively and in themselves, but what they are for us, in our way of looking at them, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/it-is-not-what-things-are-objectively-and-in-themselves-but-what-they/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [ “\[Materialism\] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-simple-state-of-matter-and/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [In order to increase his pleasures, man has intentionally added to the number and pressure of his needs, which in their original state were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-order-to-increase-his-pleasures-man-has-intentionally-added-to-the/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“For the will, as that which is common to all, is for that reason also common: consequently, every vehement emergence of will is common,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/for-the-will-as-that-which-is-common-to-all-is-for-that-reason-also/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Alles Urdenken geschieht in Bildern: darum ist die Phantasie ein so nothwendiges Werkzeug desselben, und werden phantasielose Köpfe nie etwas Großes leisten, - es…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/alles-urdenken-geschieht-in-bildern-darum-ist-die-phantasie-ein-so/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Intellect is invisible to the man who has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/intellect-is-invisible-to-the-man-who-has-none/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [Newspapers are the second hand of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/newspapers-are-the-second-hand-of-history/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“In travelling where novelties of all kinds press in upon us, mental food is often supplied so rapidly from without that there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/in-travelling-where-novelties-of-all-kinds-press-in-upon-us-mental/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) [Explore all 791 Arthur Schopenhauer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) ## More Agnostic quotes > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [The prayer of the agnostic: "O God, if there is a God, save my soul if I have a soul."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-prayer-of-the-agnostic-o-god-if-there-is-a-god-save-my-soul-if-i/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [I'm actually, for the most part, a complete agnostic politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/i-m-actually-for-the-most-part-a-complete-agnostic-politically/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [There is, in fact, nothing about religious opinions that entitles them to any more respect than other opinions get. On the contrary, they tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/there-is-in-fact-nothing-about-religious-opinions-that-entitles-them/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Some people are so stiff and inhumane as the dogma's they believe in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/some-people-are-so-stiff-and-inhumane-as-the-dogma-s-they-believe-in/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [If a humanist or an atheist or an agnostic says, "We'll bake you a pie," we can go right into the kitchen and bake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/if-a-humanist-or-an-atheist-or-an-agnostic-says-we-ll-bake-you-a-pie/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [I'm agnostic because I went through the usual process of parents insisting you go to church, and yet they didn't. So there's me, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/i-m-agnostic-because-i-went-through-the-usual-process-of-parents/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [Intellect, at its best, can make you agnostic. Being theist or atheist is still a matter of choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/intellect-at-its-best-can-make-you-agnostic-being-theist-or-atheist/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [To be agnostic is to be open-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-agnostic-is-to-be-open-minded/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All Gaza's temples are torn down and burned and the city is cleansed of every belief but the Christian faith. The most stubborn opponents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macmullen/all-gaza-s-temples-are-torn-down-and-burned-and-the-city-is-cleansed/) [Ramsay MacMullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macmullen/) > [I'm still agnostic. But in the words of Elton Richards, I'm now a reverant agnostic. Which isn't an oxymoron, I swear. I now believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-still-agnostic-but-in-the-words-of-elton-richards-i-m-now-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm agnostic. By definition, I'm unsure of what to believe in, but I'm also borderline-capable of believing in anything and everything, or nothing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lola/i-m-agnostic-by-definition-i-m-unsure-of-what-to-believe-in-but-i-m/) [Lauren Lola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lola/) > [“The Agnostic is one who asserts 'what no one denies' that there are limits to the sphere of human intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stephen/the-agnostic-is-one-who-asserts-what-no-one-denies-that-there-are/) [Leslie Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stephen/) [Browse all 492 Agnostic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religions are like fireflies. 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