--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a professed atheist, until I find…" description: "\"I am a professed atheist, until I find myself in serious circumstances. Then I quickly fall on my knees, in my mind if not literally, and I say : 'Plea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/don-mccullin-27351_atheist_i-am-a-professed-atheist-until-i-find-my_1312317.jpg" --- # I am a professed atheist, until I find myself in serious… ![“I am a professed atheist, until I find myself in serious circumstances. Then I quickly fall on my knees, in my mind if not literally, and I say : 'Please God, save me from this.'” quote by Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/don-mccullin-27351_atheist_i-am-a-professed-atheist-until-i-find-my_1312317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/don-mccullin-27351_atheist_i-am-a-professed-atheist-until-i-find-my_1312317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/don-mccullin-27351_atheist_i-am-a-professed-atheist-until-i-find-my_1312317.jpg) > “I am a professed atheist, until I find myself in serious circumstances. Then I quickly fall on my knees, in my mind if not literally, and I say : 'Please God, save me from this.'” [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In crises, even staunch atheists may instinctively seek divine aid, reflecting deep human need for hope. **In simple terms:** Crisis can make anyone pray, regardless of belief. Key Takeaway Acknowledge vulnerability, seek support. Themes faith humanity vulnerability Mood reflective empathetic Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - personal emergencies - war zones - health crises Key Concepts psychology of belief existential crisis Questions to Reflect On - What non‑spiritual resources can you turn to? - How does belief affect coping? A Different Perspective Reliance on prayer may not address practical solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Save me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-me/) ## Related quotes > [“Some may say I’m an idiot for falling so quickly, but sometimes the fall happens so damn fast that you don’t even know until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-ashley/some-may-say-i-m-an-idiot-for-falling-so-quickly-but-sometimes-the/) [Victoria Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-ashley/) > [The party in power, like Jonah's gourd, grew up quickly, and will quickly fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davy-crockett/the-party-in-power-like-jonah-s-gourd-grew-up-quickly-and-will/) [Davy Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davy-crockett/) > [I fall in love quickly, but I fall out of love even quicker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/i-fall-in-love-quickly-but-i-fall-out-of-love-even-quicker/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [I'm not praying for God to save me from cancer. I'm not. God will enlighten me when the time comes. And if I've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-m-not-praying-for-god-to-save-me-from-cancer-i-m-not-god-will/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [God save me from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/god-save-me-from-myself/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Oh God! If you save me I will work for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/oh-god-if-you-save-me-i-will-work-for-you/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I have seen horrible places and have risked my life, but I know that somehow God will always save me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenji-goto/i-have-seen-horrible-places-and-have-risked-my-life-but-i-know-that/) Kenji Goto > [Imora thea mi savur," Ash whispered under his breath in Atlantean. God save me from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/imora-thea-mi-savur-ash-whispered-under-his-breath-in-atlantean-god/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [God save me from idealists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/god-save-me-from-idealists/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Yes, for every child, rich or poor, there's a time of running through a dark place; and there's no word for a child's fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/yes-for-every-child-rich-or-poor-there-s-a-time-of-running-through-a/) [James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/) > [Written in support of abolishing the Corn Laws, it became Elliott's most famous poem. The Peoples Anthem When wilt thou save the people Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/written-in-support-of-abolishing-the-corn-laws-it-became-elliott-s/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [Be ever more obedient to God and He will save you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pachomius-the-great/be-ever-more-obedient-to-god-and-he-will-save-you/) [Pachomius the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pachomius-the-great/) > [“You're history, Donohue. You think countries run the fucking world! Go back to fucking Sunday school. It's 'God save our multinational' they're singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/you-re-history-donohue-you-think-countries-run-the-fucking-world-go/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The prayer of the agnostic: "O God, if there is a God, save my soul if I have a soul."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-prayer-of-the-agnostic-o-god-if-there-is-a-god-save-my-soul-if-i/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) ## More by Don McCullin > [I am sometimes accused by my peers of printing my pictures too dark. All I can say is that it goes with the mood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-am-sometimes-accused-by-my-peers-of-printing-my-pictures-too-dark/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I don't want to die for a few pictures. I want to live for every sunrise I can clap my eyes on; I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-don-t-want-to-die-for-a-few-pictures-i-want-to-live-for-every/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography has been very, very generous to me, but at the same time has damaged me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-has-been-very-very-generous-to-me-but-at-the-same-time/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I feel shabby - because I've made a name, quite a good name, out of photography. And I still find myself asking the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-feel-shabby-because-i-ve-made-a-name-quite-a-good-name-out-of/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I think, the more of a student I am, the better it will be for my work because it means once you have too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-think-the-more-of-a-student-i-am-the-better-it-will-be-for-my-work/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography is the truth if it’s being handled by a truthful person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-is-the-truth-if-it-s-being-handled-by-a-truthful-person/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [The real truth of life is on the streets. Photograph the daily lives of people, and how they exist, and how they fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/the-real-truth-of-life-is-on-the-streets-photograph-the-daily-lives/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography isn't about seeing, it's about feeling. If I don't have some kind of feeling for what I'm shooting, how can I expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-isn-t-about-seeing-it-s-about-feeling-if-i-don-t-have/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-for-me-is-not-looking-it-s-feeling-if-you-can-t-feel-what/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Beauty is a dangerous word. Beauty becomes slightly indulgent for me. It's a snatched kind of moment for me because I'm entitled to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/beauty-is-a-dangerous-word-beauty-becomes-slightly-indulgent-for-me/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Seeing, looking at what others cannot bear to see is what my life is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/seeing-looking-at-what-others-cannot-bear-to-see-is-what-my-life-is/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [There's always a threat surrounding the things you love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/there-s-always-a-threat-surrounding-the-things-you-love/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [Photography's a case of keeping all the pores of the skin open, as well as the eyes. A lot of photographers today think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/photography-s-a-case-of-keeping-all-the-pores-of-the-skin-open-as/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [You cannot walk on the water of hunger, misery, and death. You have to wade through to record them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/you-cannot-walk-on-the-water-of-hunger-misery-and-death-you-have-to/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) > [I want to be the toughest photographer in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mccullin/i-want-to-be-the-toughest-photographer-in-the-world/) [Don McCullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) [Explore all 20 Don McCullin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mccullin/) ## 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": "I am a professed atheist, until I find myself in serious circumstances. 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