---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't say that I don't believe in God…"
description: "\"I don't say that I don't believe in God because that implies that there is a God for me not to believe in.\" — Douglas Adams"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png"
---

#  I don't say that I don't believe in God because that…

![“I don't say that I don't believe in God because that implies that there is a God for me not to believe in.” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png)

> “I don't say that I don't believe in God because that implies that there is a God for me not to believe in.”

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Questioning belief in God is complex; denying belief can imply a specific concept of God that one rejects.

**In simple terms:** Denying belief can be a specific.

Key Takeaway

Clarify what you mean when you discuss belief.

Themes

faith philosophy belief language

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical inquisitive

When to use this quote

- debates on religion
- personal introspection
- academic discussion
- writing
- public speaking

Key Concepts

existentialism semantic nuance theology

Questions to Reflect On

- What does 'God' mean to you?
- How does language shape your spiritual views?

A Different Perspective

Some view non-belief as a stance, not a denial of a concept.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

## Related quotes

> [Next time someone tells me they believe in God, I'll say 'Oh which one? Zeus? Hades? Jupiter? Mars? Odin? Thor? Krishna? Vishnu? Ra?...' If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/next-time-someone-tells-me-they-believe-in-god-i-ll-say-oh-which-one/)

[Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/)

> [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. Our life's battle is to appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-gods-and-devils-are-within-us-it-s/)

[Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/)

> [I've always said I don't believe in God, I believe in Al Pacino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/i-ve-always-said-i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-in-al-pacino/)

[Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/)

> [I don't believe in God, but I do believe in His saints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/i-don-t-believe-in-god-but-i-do-believe-in-his-saints/)

[Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/)

> [“I certainly don’t like the idea of missionaries. In fact, the whole business fills me with fear and alarm. I don’t believe in God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-certainly-don-t-like-the-idea-of-missionaries-in-fact-the-whole/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [Without a doubt. I believe in fate the same way others believe in God. I do believe in fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ngeles-mastretta/without-a-doubt-i-believe-in-fate-the-same-way-others-believe-in-god/)

[Angeles Mastretta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ngeles-mastretta/)

> [However you define God, and whether you believe in God or not, the world we live in has been shaped by the universal human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/however-you-define-god-and-whether-you-believe-in-god-or-not-the/)

[Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/)

> [I believe in God. I believe in country. I believe in family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/i-believe-in-god-i-believe-in-country-i-believe-in-family/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cabal/your-heart-must-not-be-troubled-believe-in-god-believe-also-in-me-2/)

[Ted Cabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cabal/)

> [“I don't believe in God, I only believe in Al Pacino, and that's the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-only-believe-in-al-pacino-and-that-s-the/)

[Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/)

> [Just like I believe God is everywhere, I believe that whether it's nature, whether it's sitting on a bike in spin class, that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-rinna/just-like-i-believe-god-is-everywhere-i-believe-that-whether-it-s/)

[Lisa Rinna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-rinna/)

> [Believe in yourself more than you believe in other people .. , but believe in God more than you believe in yourself..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-fruitwala/believe-in-yourself-more-than-you-believe-in-other-people-but-believe/)

[Himanshu Fruitwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-fruitwala/)

> [Some people never know that they happen, some people never know that they had a shot to know whatever it is their dream is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-montgomery/some-people-never-know-that-they-happen-some-people-never-know-that/)

[Ryan Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-montgomery/)

> [Put your trust in God and dont depend on anyone, believe in God and believe in yourself then the sky is your limit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhimien-destiny-frank/put-your-trust-in-god-and-dont-depend-on-anyone-believe-in-god-and/)

Akhimien Destiny Frank

> [I have never come to know God, to see God, to believe in God through doing science. He's not the conclusion of some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/i-have-never-come-to-know-god-to-see-god-to-believe-in-god-through/)

[George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/)

## More by Douglas Adams

> [2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/2-000-years-ago-one-man-got-nailed-to-a-tree-for-saying-how-great-it/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [The technology involved in making anything invisible is so infinitely complex that nine hundred and ninety-nine billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-technology-involved-in-making-anything-invisible-is-so-infinitely/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [One is never alone with a rubber duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/one-is-never-alone-with-a-rubber-duck/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/this-must-be-thursday-i-never-could-get-the-hang-of-thursdays/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [There are some oddities in the perspective with which we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-are-some-oddities-in-the-perspective-with-which-we-see-the-world/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [“Eight hours West sat a man alone on a beach mourning an inexplicable loss. He could only think of his loss in little packets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/eight-hours-west-sat-a-man-alone-on-a-beach-mourning-an-inexplicable/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [“The Universe, the whole infinite Universe. The infinite suns, the infinite distances between them, and yourself an invisible dot on an invisible dot, infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-universe-the-whole-infinite-universe-the-infinite-suns-the/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/any-man-who-can-hitch-the-length-and-breadth-of-the-galaxy-rough-it/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [“When we told our guide that we didn't want to go to all the tourist places he took us instead to the places where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-we-told-our-guide-that-we-didn-t-want-to-go-to-all-the-tourist/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [“But Douglas was a genius, because he saw the world differently, and more importantly, he could communicate the world he saw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-douglas-was-a-genius-because-he-saw-the-world-differently-and/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [“The bits which did mean anything were often so wonderfully buried that no one could ever spot them slipping past in the avalanche of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-bits-which-did-mean-anything-were-often-so-wonderfully-buried/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

> [You come to me for advice, but you can't cope with anything you don't recognize. Hmmm. So we'll have to tell you something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-come-to-me-for-advice-but-you-can-t-cope-with-anything-you-don-t/)

[Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

[Explore all 1,168 Douglas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“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/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't say that I don't believe in God because that implies that there is a God for me not to believe in.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Douglas Adams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god-because-that-implies-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god-because-that-implies-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fc/douglas-adams-122_believe_i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god_1341984.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't say that I don't believe in God because that implies that there is a God for me not to believe in.” — Douglas Adams",
                "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": "Douglas Adams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't say that I don't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god-because-that-implies-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-don-t-say-that-i-don-t-believe-in-god-because-that-implies-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
