--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was man who first made men believe in…" description: "\"It was man who first made men believe in gods.\" — Critias" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/critias-54978_atheism_it-was-man-who-first-made-men-believe-in_582994.png" --- # It was man who first made men believe in gods. ![“It was man who first made men believe in gods.” quote by Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/critias-54978_atheism_it-was-man-who-first-made-men-believe-in_582994.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/critias-54978_atheism_it-was-man-who-first-made-men-believe-in_582994.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/critias-54978_atheism_it-was-man-who-first-made-men-believe-in_582994.png) > “It was man who first made men believe in gods.” [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human belief in deities originates from early societal constructs that attribute agency to unseen forces. **In simple terms:** People first invented gods to explain the world. Key Takeaway Question origins of belief. Themes mythology psychology religion Mood reflective analytical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - historical analysis - philosophical debate - education - secular counseling Key Concepts anthropology cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies create gods? - How does this view affect modern faith? A Different Perspective Religious belief can also arise from personal experience, not just social invention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-gods-449728/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-believe-289818/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) ## Related quotes > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't believe there is a God. If I were to believe in a god, l would believe in gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-don-t-believe-there-is-a-god-if-i-were-to-believe-in-a-god-l-would/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I believe in the gods; or rather I believe that I believe in the gods. 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That is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-i-were-to-believe-in-a-god-l-would-believe-in-gods-i-think/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [It must be so hard to cope with death if you don't believe in Gods plan and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-must-be-so-hard-to-cope-with-death-if-you-don-t-believe-in-gods/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that the gods themselves are frightened of the world which they have fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-believe-that-the-gods-themselves-are-frightened-of-the-world-which/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. 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If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/next-time-someone-tells-me-they-believe-in-god-i-ll-say-oh-which-one/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“I believe in religion, I believe in religious expression, and I believe that all gods are one God. I do not lie when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arin-murphy-hiscock/i-believe-in-religion-i-believe-in-religious-expression-and-i-believe/) [Arin Murphy-Hiscock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arin-murphy-hiscock/) > [“How can I preach Dissolution?" he said. "How can I not believe in the gods when I have seen them for myself?" "That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/how-can-i-preach-dissolution-he-said-how-can-i-not-believe-in-the/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I choose not to believe in any gods as an act of charity,” Marcus said. “Charity toward whom?” “Toward the gods. Seems rude to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/i-choose-not-to-believe-in-any-gods-as-an-act-of-charity-marcus-said/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) > [I don't believe in Gods and devils. I think it's man-made stories to try and help people understand where all this came from. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/i-don-t-believe-in-gods-and-devils-i-think-it-s-man-made-stories-to/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) ## More by Critias > [Fortune always fights on the side of the prudent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/critias/fortune-always-fights-on-the-side-of-the-prudent/) [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) > [No mercy goes unpunished by the angry gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/critias/no-mercy-goes-unpunished-by-the-angry-gods/) [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) > [Is not living at all not better than living badly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/critias/is-not-living-at-all-not-better-than-living-badly/) [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) > [For which reason the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable, because there is a shoal of mud in the way; and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/critias/for-which-reason-the-sea-in-those-parts-is-impassable-and/) [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) > [“Nothing is guaranteed, except that what is born will die, and that in life ruin cannot be avoided.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/critias/nothing-is-guaranteed-except-that-what-is-born-will-die-and-that-in/) [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) [Explore all 6 Critias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) ## 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. 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