Life Quote by Frank Sheed
““What follows is very simple but revolutionary. If a carpenter makes a chair, he can leave it and the chair will not cease to be. For the material he used in its making has a quality called rigidity, by virtue of which it will retain its nature as a chair. The maker of the chair has left it, but the chair can still rely for continuance in existence upon the material he used, the wood. Similarly if the Maker of the Universe left it, the Universe too would have to rely for continuance in existence upon the material He used—nothing. In short, the truth that God used no material in our making carries with it the not-sufficiently-realized truth that God continues to hold us in being, and that unless He did so we should simply cease to be.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Nature of God, 1965
If the universe’s creator left it, existence depends on the material used; since God used none, continual divine support is necessary for being.
In simple terms: God’s non‑material creation still requires His ongoing presence.
Key Takeaway
Recognize dependence on divine sustenance.
Themes
theology
philosophy
existence
creation
divine support
Mood
thought‑provoking
contemplative
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- faith contemplation
- philosophical debate
- spiritual practice
- existential reflection
Key Concepts
materialism
dependence
cosmology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see existence as dependent on a creator?
- What implications arise if divine support ceases?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes a personal deity, which may not be universally accepted.
