--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The nonbelievers need the believers. They…" description: "\"“The nonbelievers need the believers. They are desperate to have someone believe.\" \"As belief shrinks from the world, people find it more necessary tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/don-delillo-294_faith_the-nonbelievers-need-the-believers-they_2238748.jpg" --- # The nonbelievers need the believers. They are desperate to… ![“The nonbelievers need the believers. They are desperate to have someone believe." "As belief shrinks from the world, people find it more necessary than ever that someone believe... Those who have abandoned belief must still believe in us. They are sure that they are right not to believe but they…” quote by Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/don-delillo-294_faith_the-nonbelievers-need-the-believers-they_2238748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/don-delillo-294_faith_the-nonbelievers-need-the-believers-they_2238748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e31/don-delillo-294_faith_the-nonbelievers-need-the-believers-they_2238748.jpg) > ““The nonbelievers need the believers. They are desperate to have someone believe." "As belief shrinks from the world, people find it more necessary than ever that someone believe... Those who have abandoned belief must still believe in us. They are sure that they are right not to believe but they know belief must not fade completely. Hell is when no one believes.”” [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Belief persists because people need something to trust when faith wanes, preventing existential emptiness. **In simple terms:** People need belief when faith declines. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of belief. Themes faith existentialism human need Mood thoughtful somber Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - community building - spiritual practice Key Concepts Belief systems psychological comfort social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to belief? - How does belief shape society? A Different Perspective Belief can be manipulated or false. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Nonbelievers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonbelievers/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who have abandoned belief must still believe in us. They are sure that they are right not to believe but they know belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/those-who-have-abandoned-belief-must-still-believe-in-us-they-are/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [As belief shrinks from the world, it is more necessary than ever that someone believe. Wild-eyed men in caves. Nuns in black. Monks who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/as-belief-shrinks-from-the-world-it-is-more-necessary-than-ever-that/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“We can’t be lone rangers. You need to be fed, Hannah—not just in the sacred journey group or in your private devotions. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-garlough-brown/we-can-t-be-lone-rangers-you-need-to-be-fed-hannah-not-just-in-the/) [Sharon Garlough Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-garlough-brown/) > [Christians need to embrace that there need to be believers talking about love and social issues and all other aspects of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/christians-need-to-embrace-that-there-need-to-be-believers-talking/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [No one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/no-one-has-ever-abandoned-a-belief-because-he-was-forced-to-do-so/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [After one has abandoned a belief in God, poetry is that essence which takes its place as life's redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/after-one-has-abandoned-a-belief-in-god-poetry-is-that-essence-which/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“T-1.IV.4. The emptiness engendered by fear must be replaced by forgiveness. That is what the Bible means by “There is no death,” and why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foundation-for-inner-peace/t-1-iv-4-the-emptiness-engendered-by-fear-must-be-replaced-by/) [Foundation for Inner Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foundation-for-inner-peace/) > [All it takes for America to become a theocracy is for nonbelievers to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hayes/all-it-takes-for-america-to-become-a-theocracy-is-for-nonbelievers-to/) [Judith Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hayes/) > [The transcendent and the numinous can be accessible to the most materialistic of scientists, without positing the supernatural. At the same time, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cota/the-transcendent-and-the-numinous-can-be-accessible-to-the-most/) Norman Cota > [“Whenever He answers prayers, God usually prioritizes those by people who, instead of their mouths, have prayed with their hands and/or feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-he-answers-prayers-god-usually-prioritizes-those-by-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [What I learned: Shun nonbelievers. Ignore critics. Do your best for people who want to dance with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/what-i-learned-shun-nonbelievers-ignore-critics-do-your-best-for/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Let nonbelievers be motivators! If you want it go get it! Put God 1st and chase your dream!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-nonbelievers-be-motivators-if-you-want-it-go-get-it-put-god-1st/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hurricanes are evolutions way of punishing nonbelievers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fowler/hurricanes-are-evolutions-way-of-punishing-nonbelievers/) [Steve Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fowler/) > [A mission is a place where you ask nonbelievers to come and find faith and hope and feel love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/a-mission-is-a-place-where-you-ask-nonbelievers-to-come-and-find/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [We are called not simply to communicate the gospel to nonbelievers; we must also intentionally celebrate the gospel before them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/we-are-called-not-simply-to-communicate-the-gospel-to-nonbelievers-we/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More by Don DeLillo > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Everything is barely weeks. Everything is days. We have minutes to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/everything-is-barely-weeks-everything-is-days-we-have-minutes-to-live/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [The novel is the dream release, the suspension of reality that history needs to escape its own brutal confinements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-novel-is-the-dream-release-the-suspension-of-reality-that-history/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“As I listened I thought a featureless baggy man was striking me in slow motion with a well-polished stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/as-i-listened-i-thought-a-featureless-baggy-man-was-striking-me-in/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Murray said, 'I don't trust anybody's nostalgia but my own. Nostalgia is a product of dissatisfaction and rage. It´s a settling of grievances between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/murray-said-i-don-t-trust-anybody-s-nostalgia-but-my-own-nostalgia-is/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“She is beginning to think it is possible that all creation is a spurt of blank matter that chances to make an emerald planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/she-is-beginning-to-think-it-is-possible-that-all-creation-is-a-spurt/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Those who have abandoned belief must still believe in us. They are sure that they are right not to believe but they know belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/those-who-have-abandoned-belief-must-still-believe-in-us-they-are/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“The plane had lost power in all three engines, dropped from thirty-four thousand feet to twelve thousand feet. Something like four miles. When the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-plane-had-lost-power-in-all-three-engines-dropped-from-thirty/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Grass: I live in a great steel tower that reflects the blazing sun. People catch fire just walking by. The more bodies that pile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/grass-i-live-in-a-great-steel-tower-that-reflects-the-blazing-sun/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“What people discard could make a nation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/what-people-discard-could-make-a-nation/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Marriage is something we make from available materials. In this sense it’s improvised, it’s almost offhand. Maybe this is why we know so little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/marriage-is-something-we-make-from-available-materials-in-this-sense/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [The true life is not reducible to words spoken or written, not by anyone, ever. The true life takes place when we're alone, thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-true-life-is-not-reducible-to-words-spoken-or-written-not-by/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I've come to think of Europe as a hardcover book, America as the paperback version.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-ve-come-to-think-of-europe-as-a-hardcover-book-america-as-the/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [There is a set of balances and rhythms to a novel that we can't experience in real life. So I think there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/there-is-a-set-of-balances-and-rhythms-to-a-novel-that-we-can-t/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“There is no lie in war or preparation of war that can't be defended. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/there-is-no-lie-in-war-or-preparation-of-war-that-can-t-be-defended/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) [Explore all 699 Don DeLillo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [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/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The nonbelievers need the believers. They are desperate to have someone believe.\" \"As belief shrinks from the world, people find it more necessary than ever that someone believe... Those who have abandoned belief must still believe in us. 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