--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Doth some one say that there be gods…" description: "\"Doth some one say that there be gods above? There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool, Led by the old false fable, thus deceive you. Look at the fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg" --- # Doth some one say that there be gods above? There are not… ![“Doth some one say that there be gods above? There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool, Led by the old false fable, thus deceive you. Look at the facts themselves, yielding my words, No undue credence: for I say that kings kill, rob, break oaths, lay cities waste by fraud, And doing thus are…” quote by Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg) > “Doth some one say that there be gods above? There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool, Led by the old false fable, thus deceive you. Look at the facts themselves, yielding my words, No undue credence: for I say that kings kill, rob, break oaths, lay cities waste by fraud, And doing thus are happier than those, Who live calm pious lives day after day. All divinity is built-up from our good and evil luck.” [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that human actions, especially violent and selfish ones, are often more rewarding than pious, peaceful living, suggesting that divinity is a construct based on luck and morality. **In simple terms:** Human cruelty is often rewarded, while piety is not. Key Takeaway Question the moral value of power and luck. Themes power morality divinity human nature Mood skeptical critical thoughtful Type philosophical provocative When to use this quote - political leadership - war - personal ambition - religious practice Key Concepts philosophy mythology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Do you think power corrupts inherently? - Can virtue thrive without reward? A Different Perspective It ignores the role of societal structures that can punish cruelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Credence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credence/) [Deceiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceiving/) [Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fables/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraud/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Gods Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-let-451246/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oath/) [Pious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pious/) [Say Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-gods-565113/) [Say Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-kings-4251012/) [Undue Credence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undue-credence-5812403/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [All I say is, kings is kings, and you got to make allowances. Take them all around, they're a mighty ornery lot. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/all-i-say-is-kings-is-kings-and-you-got-to-make-allowances-take-them/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Well, I have lost you; and I lost you fairly; In my own way, and with my full consent. Say what you will, kings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/well-i-have-lost-you-and-i-lost-you-fairly-in-my-own-way-and-with-my/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“If there are forty thousand people in an area that can only support thirty thousand, it's no kindness to bring in food from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/if-there-are-forty-thousand-people-in-an-area-that-can-only-support-2/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“Let's be gods. Let's be ugly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/let-s-be-gods-let-s-be-ugly/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The gods never let us love and be wise at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-gods-never-let-us-love-and-be-wise-at-the-same-time/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It's useful that there should be Gods, so let's believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-s-useful-that-there-should-be-gods-so-let-s-believe-there-are/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“What are gods for, then, if they let things like this to happen to their people?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalo-hopkinson/what-are-gods-for-then-if-they-let-things-like-this-to-happen-to/) [Nalo Hopkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalo-hopkinson/) > [Let him grow taller,she asked the gods.Let him know sixteen, and twenty, and fifty. Let him grow as tall as his father, and hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-him-grow-taller-she-asked-the-gods-let-him-know-sixteen-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm too young to be anything. I'm just a guy figuring stuff out, and when I've lived enough, I can decide what I believe...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laleh-khadivi/i-m-too-young-to-be-anything-i-m-just-a-guy-figuring-stuff-out-and/) [Laleh Khadivi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laleh-khadivi/) > [“is there any wonder why the world is where it’s at now? just notice the creature sitting near you in a movie house or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/is-there-any-wonder-why-the-world-is-where-it-s-at-now-just-notice/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Then why do the gods even let me live? It would be safer to kill me.” “You’re right.” “Thanks a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/then-why-do-the-gods-even-let-me-live-it-would-be-safer-to-kill-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Your true nature doesn't come out. So the gods let you do what you want because free will would be compromised if they showed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarsem-singh/your-true-nature-doesn-t-come-out-so-the-gods-let-you-do-what-you/) [Tarsem Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarsem-singh/) > [Baby, I can't say how the gods of virtue will judge you. But, I do know if I meet you again, in another life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/baby-i-can-t-say-how-the-gods-of-virtue-will-judge-you-but-i-do-know/) [KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/) > [“Which of us can say what the gods hold wicked?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-goodman/which-of-us-can-say-what-the-gods-hold-wicked/) [Carol Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-goodman/) > [I never say never. Its whatever Gods will is. But I hope so. I think marriage is a beautiful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-dash/i-never-say-never-its-whatever-gods-will-is-but-i-hope-so-i-think/) [Stacey Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-dash/) ## More by Euripides > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; a viper is not more hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-second-wife-is-hateful-to-the-children-of-the-first-a-viper-is-not/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Old age is not a total misery. Experience helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/old-age-is-not-a-total-misery-experience-helps/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“What greater sorrow than being forced to leave behind my native earth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/what-greater-sorrow-than-being-forced-to-leave-behind-my-native-earth/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [But woe to him, who left to moan, Reviews the hours of brightness gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/but-woe-to-him-who-left-to-moan-reviews-the-hours-of-brightness-gone/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Dreams of the proud man, making great And greater ever, Things which are not of God. In wide And devious coverts, hunter-wise, He coucheth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/dreams-of-the-proud-man-making-great-and-greater-ever-things-which/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [There is desire in those who love to hear about their loved ones' pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-desire-in-those-who-love-to-hear-about-their-loved-ones-pains/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Soon all of you immortals Will be as dead as we are! Come on then, what are you waiting for? Have you run out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/soon-all-of-you-immortals-will-be-as-dead-as-we-are-come-on-then-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [There is the sky, which is all men's together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-the-sky-which-is-all-men-s-together/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Youth holds no society with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/youth-holds-no-society-with-grief/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Leave no stone unturned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/leave-no-stone-unturned/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-who-glories-in-his-luck-may-be-overthrown-by-destiny/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) [Explore all 532 Euripides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## More Atheism 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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [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/) > [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/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Doth some one say that there be gods above? There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool, Led by the old false fable, thus deceive you. Look at the facts themselves, yielding my words, No undue credence: for I say that kings kill, rob, break oaths, lay cities waste by fraud, And doing thus are happier than those, Who live calm pious lives day after day. All divinity is built-up from our good and evil luck.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Euripides" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-above-there-are-not-no-there-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-above-there-are-not-no-there-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae1/euripides-472_atheism_doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-abo_1553532.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Doth some one say that there be gods above? There are not; no, there are not. Let no fool, Led by the old…” — Euripides", "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": "Euripides", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Doth some one say that there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-above-there-are-not-no-there-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/doth-some-one-say-that-there-be-gods-above-there-are-not-no-there-are/#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 } } ] } ```