--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These principles, universally recognized…" description: "\"These principles, universally recognized, are at fault when the question of the existence of God is considered; what has been said of Him is either uni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/baron-d-holbach-12885_atheism_these-principles-universally-recognized_2722750.jpg" --- # These principles, universally recognized, are at fault… ![“These principles, universally recognized, are at fault when the question of the existence of God is considered; what has been said of Him is either unintelligible or perfectly contradictory; and for this reason must appear impossible to every man.” quote by Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/baron-d-holbach-12885_atheism_these-principles-universally-recognized_2722750.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/baron-d-holbach-12885_atheism_these-principles-universally-recognized_2722750.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/baron-d-holbach-12885_atheism_these-principles-universally-recognized_2722750.jpg) > “These principles, universally recognized, are at fault when the question of the existence of God is considered; what has been said of Him is either unintelligible or perfectly contradictory; and for this reason must appear impossible to every man.” [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arguments about God's existence are contradictory and unintelligible, making belief seem impossible. **In simple terms:** God arguments are incoherent. Key Takeaway Question religious claims critically. Themes faith logic contradiction Mood skeptical analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - debate - education - personal belief Key Concepts theology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What makes belief meaningful? - How do you resolve contradictions? A Different Perspective Faith can be rational for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory/) [Contradictory Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory-reason-2895886/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Existence of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-of-god/) [God Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-considered-2525042/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfectly Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectly-contradictory-2895888/) [Principles Universally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-universally-2895887/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Universally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universally/) ## Related quotes > [ What has been said of \[God\] is either unintelligible or perfectly contradictory; and for this reason must appear impossible to every man of common… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/what-has-been-said-of-god-is-either-unintelligible-or-perfectly/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [And hence he must be invisible; for a spirit cannot be seen by the eye of man: nor is there any thing in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/and-hence-he-must-be-invisible-for-a-spirit-cannot-be-seen-by-the-eye/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [I feel that all the messages in the Conversations with God dialogues came from God. And many of them have been considered radical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-feel-that-all-the-messages-in-the-conversations-with-god-dialogues/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The determining bulk of Scotch people had heard of golf ever since they had heard of God and often considered the two as of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-determining-bulk-of-scotch-people-had-heard-of-golf-ever-since/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [It is a throne of grace that God in Christ is represented to us upon; but yet is is a throne still whereon majesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/it-is-a-throne-of-grace-that-god-in-christ-is-represented-to-us-upon/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [ It would take a God with equal measures of truth, love, and justice to \[give us a metanarrative\]. Since I had abandoned that faith… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/it-would-take-a-god-with-equal-measures-of-truth-love-and-justice-to/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [If indeed the death of a child is part of a larger plan, you wonder if God ever considered a smaller plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/if-indeed-the-death-of-a-child-is-part-of-a-larger-plan-you-wonder-if/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The United States is too big and we are too involved with too many people for any president to be able to take actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-united-states-is-too-big-and-we-are-too-involved-with-too-many/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I think it's important that 'Star Wars' characters speak universally, to kids and to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/i-think-it-s-important-that-star-wars-characters-speak-universally-to/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Whisky was almost universally used.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ketcham/whisky-was-almost-universally-used/) [Henry Ketcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ketcham/) > [Rejection is a universally embarrassing topic and 'Electra Heart' is my response to that. It is a frank album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/rejection-is-a-universally-embarrassing-topic-and-electra-heart-is-my/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The morality of scholarship, as currently practiced, is to encourage everyone to replace difficult pleasures by pleasures universally accessible precisely because they are easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/the-morality-of-scholarship-as-currently-practiced-is-to-encourage/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [I'm really excited about anything that is able to address the really big markets, so anything that's universally appealing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/i-m-really-excited-about-anything-that-is-able-to-address-the-really/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/of-all-of-our-inventions-for-mass-communication-pictures-still-speak/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) ## More by Baron d'Holbach > [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [In Nature nothing; is mean or contemptible, and it is only pride, originating in a false idea of our superiority, which causes our contempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/in-nature-nothing-is-mean-or-contemptible-and-it-is-only-pride/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [God, we are told, is willing to render himself inconsistent and ridiculous, to confound the curiosity of those whom, we are at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/god-we-are-told-is-willing-to-render-himself-inconsistent-and/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [“. . . In all parts of our globe, fanatics have cut each other's throats, publicly burnt each other, committed without a scruple and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/in-all-parts-of-our-globe-fanatics-have-cut-each-other-s-throats/) [Baron D'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [“An atheist is a man who does not believe the existence of a God; now, no one can be certain of the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/an-atheist-is-a-man-who-does-not-believe-the-existence-of-a-god-now/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [The universe, that vast assemblage of every thing that exists, presents only matter and motion: the whole offers to our contemplation, nothing but an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/the-universe-that-vast-assemblage-of-every-thing-that-exists-presents/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [If we go back to the beginnings of things, we shall always find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that imagination, rapture and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/if-we-go-back-to-the-beginnings-of-things-we-shall-always-find-that/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is an absurd one. What is most repellent in the System of Nature - after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/doubt-is-not-a-pleasant-condition-but-certainty-is-an-absurd-one-what/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [“...if in the heat of the dispute he insists and asks, 'Am I not the master of throwing myself out of the window?' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/if-in-the-heat-of-the-dispute-he-insists-and-asks-am-i-not-the-master/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [The Jehovah of the Jews is a suspicious tyrant, who breathes nothing but blood, murder, and carnage, and who demands that they should nourish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/the-jehovah-of-the-jews-is-a-suspicious-tyrant-who-breathes-nothing/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [“When it shall be desired to enlighten man, let him always have truth laid before him. Instead of kindling his imagination by the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/when-it-shall-be-desired-to-enlighten-man-let-him-always-have-truth/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Men always fool themselves when they give up experience for systems born of the imagination. Man is the work of nature, he exists in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/men-always-fool-themselves-when-they-give-up-experience-for-systems/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [If experience be consulted, it will be found there is no action, however abominable, that has not received the applause of some people. Parricide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/if-experience-be-consulted-it-will-be-found-there-is-no-action/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [All children are born Atheists; they have no idea of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/all-children-are-born-atheists-they-have-no-idea-of-god/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [The source of man's unhappiness is his ignorance of Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/the-source-of-man-s-unhappiness-is-his-ignorance-of-nature/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) [Explore all 45 Baron d'Holbach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) ## More Atheism 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/) > [“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/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [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/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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