--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I think of God, when I think of him…" description: "\"When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and when I believe him to be existent, my idea of him neither increases nordiminishes. But as it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg" --- # When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and… ![“When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and when I believe him to be existent, my idea of him neither increases nordiminishes. But as it is certain there is a great difference betwixt the simple conception of the existence of an object, and the belief of it, and as this difference…” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg) > “When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and when I believe him to be existent, my idea of him neither increases nordiminishes. But as it is certain there is a great difference betwixt the simple conception of the existence of an object, and the belief of it, and as this difference lies not in the parts or composition of the idea which we conceive; it follows, that it must lie in the manner in which we conceive it.” [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. The way we think about God’s existence depends on how we conceive the concept, not just on belief; the mental process shapes the idea. **In simple terms:** Our mental framing of a concept changes its perceived reality. Key Takeaway Reflect on how you form concepts of abstract ideas. Themes epistemology philosophy theology concept formation belief Mood thoughtful analytical inquisitive Type philosophical theoretical reflective When to use this quote - theological debate - philosophical discussion - personal reflection - academic study - cognitive analysis Key Concepts Ideas perception mental representation abstraction Questions to Reflect On - How does your mental framing shape belief? - Can concept formation change theological conclusions? A Different Perspective Conceptual differences may not resolve existential questions; personal belief varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-difference-699801/) [Belief in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-in-god/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Conception Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception-existence-5840627/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existentialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existentialism/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-think/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Think God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-god/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Yes, definitely, I've got so much belief in God, and I think that God's got so much belief in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseem-hamed/yes-definitely-i-ve-got-so-much-belief-in-god-and-i-think-that-god-s/) [Naseem Hamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseem-hamed/) > [Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of belief. There is a difference between believing there is no god and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/basic-atheism-is-not-a-belief-it-is-the-lack-of-belief-there-is-a/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Belief made no difference to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-duane/belief-made-no-difference-to-the-truth/) [Diane Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-duane/) > [The trouble with a lot of modern theology and a lot of modern thinking about God, is that we think of God a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/the-trouble-with-a-lot-of-modern-theology-and-a-lot-of-modern/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“When I think of a God, I think of giving and receiving. A deep destiny and song within us all waiting to be sung.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulonda-faye/when-i-think-of-a-god-i-think-of-giving-and-receiving-a-deep-destiny/) [Ulonda Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulonda-faye/) > [It is not my business to think about myself. My business is to think about God. It is for God to think about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/it-is-not-my-business-to-think-about-myself-my-business-is-to-think/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“who is GOD and what is it? The existence of GOD is just a feeling. No one has ever seen the GOD we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-venkatesh/who-is-god-and-what-is-it-the-existence-of-god-is-just-a-feeling-no/) [G venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-venkatesh/) > [We can never put enough distance between ourselves and what we love. To think that God is, is still to think of him as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blanchot/we-can-never-put-enough-distance-between-ourselves-and-what-we-love/) [Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blanchot/) > [To speak of God, to think of God, is in every respect to show what one is made of. I have always wagered against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/to-speak-of-god-to-think-of-god-is-in-every-respect-to-show-what-one/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [So if I believe in God, and I do, it’s because I think I’m God,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/so-if-i-believe-in-god-and-i-do-it-s-because-i-think-i-m-god/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [ “God is a conjecture; but I desire that your conjectures should be limited by what is thinkable. Can you think a god? \[...\] You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/god-is-a-conjecture-but-i-desire-that-your-conjectures-should-be/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I do believe in God. I think God has given so much power to people, and intelligence, and said, 'Well, you are on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/i-do-believe-in-god-i-think-god-has-given-so-much-power-to-people-and/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [So what does that make you think about God? I think that maybe, if human beings have souls, that maybe their souls are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-runyon/so-what-does-that-make-you-think-about-god-i-think-that-maybe-if/) [Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-runyon/) > [“No, I don't believe it," Joseph said. "From listening to my father and grandfather talk about El Shaddai, I think he's different from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-morris/no-i-don-t-believe-it-joseph-said-from-listening-to-my-father-and/) [Gilbert Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-morris/) > [“GOD. Sometimes I think there might be a god out there, and that every once in a while he tunes in to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-morrison/god-sometimes-i-think-there-might-be-a-god-out-there-and-that-every/) [Suzanne Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-morrison/) ## 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 Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“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/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and when I believe him to be existent, my idea of him neither increases nordiminishes. But as it is certain there is a great difference betwixt the simple conception of the existence of an object, and the belief of it, and as this difference lies not in the parts or composition of the idea which we conceive; it follows, that it must lie in the manner in which we conceive it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Hume" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him-as-existent-and-when-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him-as-existent-and-when-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/david-hume-538_belief_when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him_1558464.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and when I believe him to be existent, my idea of him…” — 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": "When I think of God, when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him-as-existent-and-when-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him-as-existent-and-when-i/#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 } } ] } ```