--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we go back to the beginning, we shall…" description: "\"If we go back to the beginning, we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned them; that weakness w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/bill-maher-211_agnostic_if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-shall_2074091.jpg" --- # If we go back to the beginning, we shall find that… ![“If we go back to the beginning, we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned them; that weakness worships them; that credulity preserves them and that custom, respect and tyranny support them in order to make the blindness of men serve their own…” quote by Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/bill-maher-211_agnostic_if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-shall_2074091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/bill-maher-211_agnostic_if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-shall_2074091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/bill-maher-211_agnostic_if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-shall_2074091.jpg) > “If we go back to the beginning, we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned them; that weakness worships them; that credulity preserves them and that custom, respect and tyranny support them in order to make the blindness of men serve their own interests. If the ignorance of nature gave birth to gods, the knowledge of nature is calculated to destroy them.” [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human-made deities arise from fear, ignorance, and social forces, and scientific understanding undermines them. **In simple terms:** Gods stem from fear and ignorance; knowledge challenges them. Key Takeaway Question beliefs with evidence. Themes religion psychology society power knowledge Mood critical skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - public discourse - policy making - secular activism Key Concepts mythmaking social control skepticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront comforting myths? - What role does authority play in sustaining them? A Different Perspective Science alone may not change deep-rooted cultural devotion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Blindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blindness/) [Customs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customs/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance and fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-and-fear/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [If the ignorance of nature gave birth to gods, the knowledge of nature is calculated to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/if-the-ignorance-of-nature-gave-birth-to-gods-the-knowledge-of-nature/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [We live in an age of artificial scarcity, maintained by ignorance and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/we-live-in-an-age-of-artificial-scarcity-maintained-by-ignorance-and/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [So many people shy away from using color in their homes for fear of getting it wrong...But ignorance and fear are no reason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-adler/so-many-people-shy-away-from-using-color-in-their-homes-for-fear-of/) [Jonathan Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-adler/) > [Ignorance and fear are but matters of the mind - and the mind is adaptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kish/ignorance-and-fear-are-but-matters-of-the-mind-and-the-mind-is/) Daniel Kish > [“If we go back to the beginning,” says Holbach, “we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm or deceit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-says-holbach-we-shall-find-that/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [“If we go back to the beginning we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach-2/if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-shall-find-that-ignorance-and-fear/) Baron D. Holbach > [The violet sea longs for the birth of gods, for to be born here is an unspeakable feast, a drumroll of commanding retinues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-lezama-lima/the-violet-sea-longs-for-the-birth-of-gods-for-to-be-born-here-is-an/) [Jose Lezama Lima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-lezama-lima/) > [God Gives Birth To gods!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/god-gives-birth-to-gods/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [The unhappiness of people is due to their ignorance of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/the-unhappiness-of-people-is-due-to-their-ignorance-of-nature/) [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/) > [“If the ignorance of nature gave birth to such a variety of gods, the knowledge of this nature is calculated to destroy them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henri-thiry-d-holbach/if-the-ignorance-of-nature-gave-birth-to-such-a-variety-of-gods-the/) [Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henri-thiry-d-holbach/) > [I believe man suffers from an appalling ignorance of his own nature. I produce my own view in the belief that it may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-believe-man-suffers-from-an-appalling-ignorance-of-his-own-nature-i/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [In other living creatures the ignorance of themselves is nature, but in men it is a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius/in-other-living-creatures-the-ignorance-of-themselves-is-nature-but/) [Boethius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius/) > [Miracles arise from our ignorance of nature, not from nature itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/miracles-arise-from-our-ignorance-of-nature-not-from-nature-itself/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More by Bill Maher > [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [To all conservative women out there: If you are so sure the embryo needed for stem cell research are precious human life that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-all-conservative-women-out-there-if-you-are-so-sure-the-embryo/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Curious people are intersting people, I wonder why that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/curious-people-are-intersting-people-i-wonder-why-that-is/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [You see, the difference is the Republicans' hatred of Obama is based on a paranoid feeling about what he might do, what he's thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/you-see-the-difference-is-the-republicans-hatred-of-obama-is-based-on/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The food is out of this world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/the-food-is-out-of-this-world/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [If we were a dog and God owned us, the cops would come and take us away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/if-we-were-a-dog-and-god-owned-us-the-cops-would-come-and-take-us-away/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“New Rule: The White House doesn't have to release the dead Bin Laden photos, but don't pretend we can't take it. We've seen pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-the-white-house-doesn-t-have-to-release-the-dead-bin-laden/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I think religion is bad and drugs are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-think-religion-is-bad-and-drugs-are-good/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I don't hate America. I love America. I want it to be better. The only way we can get it to be better is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-hate-america-i-love-america-i-want-it-to-be-better-the-only/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“New Rule: Americans must realize what makes NFL football so great: socialism. That's right, the NFL takes money from the rich teams and gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-americans-must-realize-what-makes-nfl-football-so-great/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [So many kids are fat drug addicts these days, it's almost as if Rush Limbaugh had puppies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/so-many-kids-are-fat-drug-addicts-these-days-it-s-almost-as-if-rush/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [What we don't know is about Jeb Bush and cocaine. But we do know that he did once had his brother Florida on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/what-we-don-t-know-is-about-jeb-bush-and-cocaine-but-we-do-know-that/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“I find that the world is changing much, much faster than I can even bitch about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-find-that-the-world-is-changing-much-much-faster-than-i-can-even/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) [Explore all 897 Bill Maher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## 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. 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