--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can we be strangers if we both…" description: "\"How can we be strangers if we both believe in God?\" — Bernard Malamud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/bernard-malamud-3871_believe_how-can-we-be-strangers-if-we-both-belie_1712285.jpg" --- # How can we be strangers if we both believe in God? ![“How can we be strangers if we both believe in God?” quote by Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/bernard-malamud-3871_believe_how-can-we-be-strangers-if-we-both-belie_1712285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/bernard-malamud-3871_believe_how-can-we-be-strangers-if-we-both-belie_1712285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/bernard-malamud-3871_believe_how-can-we-be-strangers-if-we-both-belie_1712285.jpg) > “How can we be strangers if we both believe in God?” [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) ## 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 questions the paradox of shared belief in God yet feeling distant, highlighting tension between faith and personal connection. **In simple terms:** Faith can coexist with emotional distance. Key Takeaway Recognize shared belief while respecting personal boundaries. Themes faith relationships paradox Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - personal relationships - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology existential tension Questions to Reflect On - How does shared belief affect intimacy? - Can spiritual common ground bridge emotional distance? A Different Perspective It may overlook the depth of personal experience that shapes belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-god/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers/) [Strangers Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers-believe-1258131/) ## Related quotes > [I believe in God, because he is the only thing that kept me going. He's my best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hahn/i-believe-in-god-because-he-is-the-only-thing-that-kept-me-going-he-s/) [Jessica Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hahn/) > [We can't all be friends and relatives as the world is; most of us have to be strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-can-t-all-be-friends-and-relatives-as-the-world-is-most-of-us-have/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [There is always one true thing to believe in…God,Science,Karma or fate...one of this always judge u.So.. try to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/there-is-always-one-true-thing-to-believe-in-god-science-karma-or/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. Our life's battle is to appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-gods-and-devils-are-within-us-it-s/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I believe in God, family, and McDonald's. And in the office, that order is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/i-believe-in-god-family-and-mcdonald-s-and-in-the-office-that-order/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-nation-can-assume-that-the-addition-of-the-words-under-god-to-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [People often ask me if I believe in God, and I kinda have to, because I'm still here. I had not planned on living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/people-often-ask-me-if-i-believe-in-god-and-i-kinda-have-to-because-i/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [“She stood and tried hard not to believe in God. It seemed mean and petty to have more belief in God when things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/she-stood-and-tried-hard-not-to-believe-in-god-it-seemed-mean-and/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [I believe God has called His people to be a light in darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherri-shepherd/i-believe-god-has-called-his-people-to-be-a-light-in-darkness/) [Sherri Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherri-shepherd/) > [I have never come to know God, to see God, to believe in God through doing science. He's not the conclusion of some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/i-have-never-come-to-know-god-to-see-god-to-believe-in-god-through/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) > [“If you believe in GOD you should never fear death. If human fears death then hill be easily enslaved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadair-desmar/if-you-believe-in-god-you-should-never-fear-death-if-human-fears/) [Nadair Desmar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadair-desmar/) > [“if I asked people whether they believed in life, they’d never understand what I meant. It’s a bad question. It can mean so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-asked-people-whether-they-believed-in-life-they-d-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't believe in angels and I have trouble with the whole God thing. I don't want to say I don't believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-don-t-believe-in-angels-and-i-have-trouble-with-the-whole-god-thing/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) > [“The events of the world can have no separate life from the world. And yet the world itself can have no temporal view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-events-of-the-world-can-have-no-separate-life-from-the-world-and/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## More by Bernard Malamud > [Writers who can't invent stories often substitute style for narrative. They remind me of the painter who couldn't paint people, so he painted chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/writers-who-can-t-invent-stories-often-substitute-style-for-narrative/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [We have two lives... the life we learn with and the life we live after that. Suffering is what brings us towards happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-have-two-lives-the-life-we-learn-with-and-the-life-we-live-after/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Leo hurried up to bed and hid under the covers. Under the covers he thought his life through. Although he soon fell asleep he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/leo-hurried-up-to-bed-and-hid-under-the-covers-under-the-covers-he/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [You can't eat language but it eases thirst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/you-can-t-eat-language-but-it-eases-thirst/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [First drafts are for learning what your novel or story is about. 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That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/i-am-somewhat-of-a-meliorist-that-is-to-say-i-act-as-an-optimist/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Teach yourself to work in uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/teach-yourself-to-work-in-uncertainty/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [One's fantasy goes for a walk and returns with a bride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/one-s-fantasy-goes-for-a-walk-and-returns-with-a-bride/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [The great thing about writing: Stay with it ... ultimately you teach yourself something very important about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/the-great-thing-about-writing-stay-with-it-ultimately-you-teach/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [We didn't starve, but we didn't eat chicken unless we were sick, or the chicken was](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/we-didn-t-starve-but-we-didn-t-eat-chicken-unless-we-were-sick-or-the/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [As long as a man stays alive he can't tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/as-long-as-a-man-stays-alive-he-can-t-tell-what-chances-will-pop-up/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“So sleep now, without fear for your life, and if you should ever manage to get out of prison, keep in mind that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/so-sleep-now-without-fear-for-your-life-and-if-you-should-ever-manage/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Children were strangers you loved because you could love. If they gave back love when they were grown you were ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/children-were-strangers-you-loved-because-you-could-love-if-they-gave/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) [Explore all 114 Bernard Malamud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) ## 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. 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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. 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