Giving Quote by Christopher Hitchens
![“Some people say that without God, people would give themselves permission to do anything. [Yet] only with God, only with the view that God's on your side, can people give themselves permission to do things that otherwise would be called satanic.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0e9/christopher-hitchens-117_giving_some-people-say-that-without-god-people_285677.jpg)
“Some people say that without God, people would give themselves permission to do anything. [Yet] only with God, only with the view that God's on your side, can people give themselves permission to do things that otherwise would be called satanic.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The God Delusion, Christopher Hitchens, 2006
The quote suggests that belief in a higher power can both limit and justify moral behavior, depending on interpretation.
In simple terms: Belief in God shapes what people consider permissible.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how belief systems influence moral choices.
Themes
morality
belief
authority
psychology
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- legal judgments
- cultural norms
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
theology
ethical relativism
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does belief in a deity affect your sense of responsibility?
- Can morality exist without religion?
A Different Perspective
The claim oversimplifies complex motivations and ignores secular moral frameworks.
![“It's [Los Angeles] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them aren't even young and beautiful now.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a86/christopher-hitchens-117_beautiful_it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense_10462.jpg)
![“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab6/christopher-hitchens-117_action_religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integ_23299.jpg)
