--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is no God, Not everything is…" description: "\"“If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to man. He is still his brother's keeper And he is not permitted to sadden his brother, By saying ther..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg" --- # If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to man. He… ![“If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to man. He is still his brother's keeper And he is not permitted to sadden his brother, By saying there is no God.” quote by Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg) > ““If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to man. He is still his brother's keeper And he is not permitted to sadden his brother, By saying there is no God.”” [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even without belief in God, moral responsibility remains; humanity must care for each other. **In simple terms:** Morality isn’t dependent on religion. Key Takeaway Act with compassion regardless of belief. Themes morality humanism responsibility Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - community service - ethical decision‑making - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts secular ethics philosophy social contract Questions to Reflect On - What guides your ethical choices? - Can secular societies foster solidarity? A Different Perspective Atheistic frameworks can lack shared moral anchors for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brother's Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-keeper/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Poetry quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-quotes/) ## Related quotes > [“I’m in love with his brother.” Saying this out loud to Bea felt like jumping out of an airplane—thrilling and irreversible. In that instant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/i-m-in-love-with-his-brother-saying-this-out-loud-to-bea-felt-like/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“They caught up with each other's news casually, leaving long, cosy gaps of silence in which to go to work on their muffins and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/they-caught-up-with-each-other-s-news-casually-leaving-long-cosy-gaps/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [“People talk about the happy quiet that can exist between two lovers, but this too was great; sitting between his sister and his brother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/people-talk-about-the-happy-quiet-that-can-exist-between-two-lovers/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [“People talk about the happy quiet that can exist between two loves, but this, too, was great; sitting between his sister and his brother,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/people-talk-about-the-happy-quiet-that-can-exist-between-two-loves/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [If there is no God, everything is permitted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-there-is-no-god-everything-is-permitted/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [How many precious things do we not already possess which others have not - have hardly an idea of! Let us enjoy these, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/how-many-precious-things-do-we-not-already-possess-which-others-have/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [“If there were God, never would He have permitted what I have seen with my eyes. Let them have God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/if-there-were-god-never-would-he-have-permitted-what-i-have-seen-with/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [If God had not permitted the people of Jerusalem to be torn asunder and driven them from the land, but had let them keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-god-had-not-permitted-the-people-of-jerusalem-to-be-torn-asunder/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“The real issues are whether the power of Western Civilization, as God has permitted it to flower in our own beloved lands, shall defy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach/the-real-issues-are-whether-the-power-of-western-civilization-as-god/) [T. R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach/) > [Thank God that He has permitted us to live among the present problems. It is no longer permitted to anyone to be mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/thank-god-that-he-has-permitted-us-to-live-among-the-present-problems/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [Now the things done may not be evil or improper; they in fact may be good and godly (such as reading the Bible, praying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/now-the-things-done-may-not-be-evil-or-improper-they-in-fact-may-be/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“Beloved, are you being sifted? Has God permitted the enemy to launch a full-scale attack against you? God knows what He's doing. He isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/beloved-are-you-being-sifted-has-god-permitted-the-enemy-to-launch-a/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“If there's no God, all is permitted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-s-no-god-all-is-permitted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think so. You’re saying that God’s putting me through this fire so He can make me a better man.” “Yes. The problem is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-h-westall/i-think-so-you-re-saying-that-god-s-putting-me-through-this-fire-so/) [Jennifer H. Westall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-h-westall/) > [“When I say that God is not a Christian, I am saying that God is not limited as Christians have made Him (It) to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-d-pearson/when-i-say-that-god-is-not-a-christian-i-am-saying-that-god-is-not/) [Carlton D. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-d-pearson/) ## More by Czeslaw Milosz > [The child who dwells inside us trusts that there are wise men somewhere who know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-child-who-dwells-inside-us-trusts-that-there-are-wise-men/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [We have become indifferent to content, and react, not even to form, but to technique, to technical efficiency itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/we-have-become-indifferent-to-content-and-react-not-even-to-form-but/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“And Yet the Books And yet the books will be there on the shelves, separate beings, That appeared once, still wet As shining chestnuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/and-yet-the-books-and-yet-the-books-will-be-there-on-the-shelves/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“When someone is honestly 55 percent right, that’s very good and there’s no use wrangling. And if someone is 60 percent right, it’s wonderful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/when-someone-is-honestly-55-percent-right-that-s-very-good-and-there/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“The worst possible sexual education: a taboo imposed by the Catholic church plus romantic literature elevating love to unreal heights plus the obscene language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-worst-possible-sexual-education-a-taboo-imposed-by-the-catholic/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [And if there is no lining to the world? If a thrush on a branch is not a sign, But just a thrush on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/and-if-there-is-no-lining-to-the-world-if-a-thrush-on-a-branch-is-not/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [At every sunrise I renounce the doubts of night and greet the new day of a most precious delusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/at-every-sunrise-i-renounce-the-doubts-of-night-and-greet-the-new-day/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [The soul exceeds its circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/the-soul-exceeds-its-circumstances/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [I imagine the earth when I am no more: Women's dresses, dewy lilacs, a song in the valley. Yet the books will be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/i-imagine-the-earth-when-i-am-no-more-women-s-dresses-dewy-lilacs-a/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [There was a time when only wise books were read helping us to bear our pain and misery. This, after all, is not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/there-was-a-time-when-only-wise-books-were-read-helping-us-to-bear/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [If I am all mankind, are they themselves without me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/if-i-am-all-mankind-are-they-themselves-without-me/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“In the very essence of poetry there is something indecent; A thing brought forth that we didn't know we had in us, So we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/in-the-very-essence-of-poetry-there-is-something-indecent-a-thing/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [Consolation Calm down. Both your sins and your good deeds will be lost in oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/consolation-calm-down-both-your-sins-and-your-good-deeds-will-be-lost/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [I am composed of contradictions, which is why poetry is a better form for me than philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/i-am-composed-of-contradictions-which-is-why-poetry-is-a-better-form/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [Every poet depends upon generations who wrote in his native tongue; he inherits styles and forms elaborated by those who lived before him. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/every-poet-depends-upon-generations-who-wrote-in-his-native-tongue-he/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) [Explore all 89 Czeslaw Milosz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) ## More Brother quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [“Yeah. You treat him like a son or a soldier, instead of like a brother. He wants you to like him and admire him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/yeah-you-treat-him-like-a-son-or-a-soldier-instead-of-like-a-brother/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) Spencer Moody > [The only way to make sure that the Hand didn't get to you would have been to kill your brother. I could've done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-only-way-to-make-sure-that-the-hand-didn-t-get-to-you-would-have/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Your favorite son and brother, Shade. Like”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/your-favorite-son-and-brother-shade-like/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [Sister + brother = a lovely family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sister-brother-a-lovely-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I worked in a barbershop. I used to make the waves in the brother's hair, you know? Like, Nat King Cole, Sugar Ray Robinson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clinton/i-worked-in-a-barbershop-i-used-to-make-the-waves-in-the-brother-s/) [George Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clinton/) [Browse all 7,453 Brother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to man. He is still his brother's keeper And he is not permitted to sadden his brother, By saying there is no God.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Czeslaw Milosz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-permitted-to-man-he-is-still-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brother" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-permitted-to-man-he-is-still-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/004/czeslaw-milosz-7653_brother_if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-per_2505768.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there is no God, Not everything is permitted to man. He is still his brother's keeper And he is not…” — Czeslaw Milosz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Czeslaw Milosz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If there is no God, Not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-permitted-to-man-he-is-still-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/if-there-is-no-god-not-everything-is-permitted-to-man-he-is-still-his/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```