--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the beginning there was faith - which…" description: "\"In the beginning there was faith - which is childish; trust - which is vain; and illusion - which is dangerous.\" — Elie Wiesel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/elie-wiesel-341_dangerous_in-the-beginning-there-was-faith-which-i_499678.png" --- # In the beginning there was faith - which is childish… ![“In the beginning there was faith - which is childish; trust - which is vain; and illusion - which is dangerous.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/elie-wiesel-341_dangerous_in-the-beginning-there-was-faith-which-i_499678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/elie-wiesel-341_dangerous_in-the-beginning-there-was-faith-which-i_499678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/elie-wiesel-341_dangerous_in-the-beginning-there-was-faith-which-i_499678.png) > “In the beginning there was faith - which is childish; trust - which is vain; and illusion - which is dangerous.” [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith, trust, and illusion each have immature aspects that can mislead if unexamined. **In simple terms:** Question naive beliefs and deceptive appearances. Key Takeaway Critically assess belief and perception. Themes skepticism spirituality perception Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious discourse - personal growth - media literacy Key Concepts critical thinking philosophical inquiry Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs have you outgrown? - How do you differentiate healthy faith from illusion? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-faith-3474947/) [Childish Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childish-trust-2052674/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusion Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-dangerous-618090/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) [Trust Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-vain-4258037/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [“In the beginning there was faith—which is childish; trust—which is vain; and illusion—which is dangerous. We believed in God, trusted in man, and lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/in-the-beginning-there-was-faith-which-is-childish-trust-which-is-2/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [The trust of the mass population can no longer be taken for granted, and any continuation of the 'grand illusion' is dangerous for leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-edelman/the-trust-of-the-mass-population-can-no-longer-be-taken-for-granted/) [Richard Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-edelman/) > [Something seems to happen to people when they meet a journalist, and what happens is exactly the opposite of what one would expect. 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We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I admit that these terms and the diagrams connected with them repel some readers, and fill others with the vain imagination that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-marshall/i-admit-that-these-terms-and-the-diagrams-connected-with-them-repel/) [Alfred Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-marshall/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. 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Today, everything is possible, even the crematoria...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-world-the-world-is-not-interested-in-us-today-everything-is/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [every question possessed a power that was lost in the answer . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/every-question-possessed-a-power-that-was-lost-in-the-answer/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I think this century more than any other really has seen the phenomenon of people being uprooted in such numbers, such a degree. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-think-this-century-more-than-any-other-really-has-seen-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [His cold eyes stared at me. At last, he said wearily: "I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. 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