--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A little philosophy makes a man an…" description: "\"A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion\" — David Hume" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg" --- # A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal… ![“A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg) > “A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion” [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy can lead some to doubt religion, while others find it strengthens their faith. **In simple terms:** Philosophy can both challenge and reinforce belief. Key Takeaway Explore ideas critically. Themes faith philosophy skepticism belief Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic debate - personal belief formation - spiritual crises Key Concepts epistemology religion intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - What role does doubt play in your belief system? - Can questioning strengthen faith? A Different Perspective Philosophical inquiry may not change deeply held convictions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheist Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-great-2628131/) [Converts Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/converts-religion-2628130/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Little Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-philosophy-1676033/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Man Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-atheist-472156/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I consider myself spiritual and I'm married to a man who is both an atheist and a humanist, and my kids have been raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-consider-myself-spiritual-and-i-m-married-to-a-man-who-is-both-an/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I don't like purely philosophical works. I think a little philosophy should be added to life and art by way of seasoning, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/i-don-t-like-purely-philosophical-works-i-think-a-little-philosophy/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [Experience has repeatedly confirmed that well-known maxim of Bacon's that 'a little philosophy inclineth a man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/experience-has-repeatedly-confirmed-that-well-known-maxim-of-bacon-s/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Roosevelt's humor was broad, his manner friendly. Of wit there was little; of philosophy, none. What did he possess? Intuition, inspiration, love of adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/roosevelt-s-humor-was-broad-his-manner-friendly-of-wit-there-was/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-little-philosophy-inclineth-man-s-mind-to-atheism-but-depth-in/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [... a little philosophy carries a man from God, but a great deal brings him back again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bathsua-makin/a-little-philosophy-carries-a-man-from-god-but-a-great-deal-brings/) [Bathsua Makin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bathsua-makin/) > [Felicity, the companion of content, is rather found in our own breasts than in the enjoyment of external things; and I firmly believe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boone/felicity-the-companion-of-content-is-rather-found-in-our-own-breasts/) [Daniel Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boone/) > [The God to whom depth in philosophy bring back men's minds is far from being the same from whom a little philosophy estranges them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-god-to-whom-depth-in-philosophy-bring-back-men-s-minds-is-far/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [“By the time I had complete my 22nd year, I was a new man - an atheist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-bartok/by-the-time-i-had-complete-my-22nd-year-i-was-a-new-man-an-atheist/) [Béla Bartók](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-bartok/) > [“It doesn't sound logical to say that a man is an atheist just because he's probably someone who knows his own God...personally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta-betelgeuse-incident/it-doesn-t-sound-logical-to-say-that-a-man-is-an-atheist-just-because/) [Toba Beta \[Betelgeuse Incident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta-betelgeuse-incident/) > [It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. . . . We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-is-hard-to-see-how-a-great-man-can-be-an-atheist-we-need-to-feel/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Man can be an atheist only in theory, not in practice, because the universe is too frightening and too chaotic to be too independent!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/man-can-be-an-atheist-only-in-theory-not-in-practice-because-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Whether the man is an atheist or a Christian, I would judge him by his fruits, and I have therefore many agnostic friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/whether-the-man-is-an-atheist-or-a-christian-i-would-judge-him-by-his/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [The footprint of the savage traced in the sand is sufficient to attest the presence of man to the atheist who will not recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-miller/the-footprint-of-the-savage-traced-in-the-sand-is-sufficient-to/) [Hugh Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-miller/) > [A pious man is one who would be an atheist if the king were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-pious-man-is-one-who-would-be-an-atheist-if-the-king-were/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) ## More by David Hume > [“Beauty in things exists in the mind that contemplates them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/beauty-in-things-exists-in-the-mind-that-contemplates-them/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“It is impossible for us to think of any thing, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/it-is-impossible-for-us-to-think-of-any-thing-which-we-have-not/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [All morality depends upon our sentiments; and when any action or quality of the mind pleases us after a certain manner we say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/all-morality-depends-upon-our-sentiments-and-when-any-action-or/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [And indeed nothing but the most determined scepticism, along with a great degree of indolence, can justify this aversion to metaphysics. For if truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/and-indeed-nothing-but-the-most-determined-scepticism-along-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/that-the-sun-will-not-rise-tomorrow-is-no-less-intelligible-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [We may conclude, therefore, that, in order to establish laws for the regulation of property, we must be acquainted with the nature and situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/we-may-conclude-therefore-that-in-order-to-establish-laws-for-the/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-observation-of-human-blindness-and-weakness-is-the-result-of-all/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-religious-hypothesis-therefore-must-be-considered-only-as-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Manufacturers...gradually shift their places, leaving those countries and provinces which they have already enriched, and flying to others, whether they are allured by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/manufacturers-gradually-shift-their-places-leaving-those-countries/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [We may observe that, in displaying the praises of any humane, beneficent man, there is one circumstance which never fails to be amply insisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/we-may-observe-that-in-displaying-the-praises-of-any-humane/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“The most perfect happiness, surely, must arise from the contemplation of the most perfect object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-most-perfect-happiness-surely-must-arise-from-the-contemplation/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“They all make up new species of crime and bring unhappiness in their train. When I hear a man is religious , I conclude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/they-all-make-up-new-species-of-crime-and-bring-unhappiness-in-their/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/there-is-not-to-be-found-in-all-history-any-miracle-attested-by-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“But though there be naturally a wide difference in point of delicacy between one person and another, nothing tends further to encrease and improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/but-though-there-be-naturally-a-wide-difference-in-point-of-delicacy/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) [Explore all 487 David Hume quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) ## More Atheist 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/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Hume" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-atheist-a-great-deal-converts-him/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-atheist-a-great-deal-converts-him/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45e/david-hume-538_atheist_a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-athei_268197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion” — David Hume", "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": "David Hume", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A little philosophy makes a man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-atheist-a-great-deal-converts-him/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/a-little-philosophy-makes-a-man-an-atheist-a-great-deal-converts-him/#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 } } ] } ```