--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As soon as he reflected seriously he was…" description: "\"“As soon as he reflected seriously he was convinced of the existence of God and immortality, and at once he instinctively said to himself: \"I want to l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_atheism_as-soon-as-he-reflected-seriously-he-was_736141.jpg" --- # As soon as he reflected seriously he was convinced of the… ![“As soon as he reflected seriously he was convinced of the existence of God and immortality, and at once he instinctively said to himself: "I want to live for immortality, and I will accept no compromise." In the same way, if he had decided that God and immortality did not exist, he would have at…” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_atheism_as-soon-as-he-reflected-seriously-he-was_736141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_atheism_as-soon-as-he-reflected-seriously-he-was_736141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_atheism_as-soon-as-he-reflected-seriously-he-was_736141.jpg) > ““As soon as he reflected seriously he was convinced of the existence of God and immortality, and at once he instinctively said to himself: "I want to live for immortality, and I will accept no compromise." In the same way, if he had decided that God and immortality did not exist, he would have at once become an atheist and a socialist. For socialism is not merely the labor question, it is before all things the atheistic question, the question of the form taken by atheism to-day, the question of the tower of Babel built without God, not to mount to heaven from earth but to set up heaven on earth.”” [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues belief in God and immortality shapes moral choices, while denial leads to atheism and socialism, linking faith to ethical foundations. **In simple terms:** Belief in God guides morality; denial leads to atheism. Key Takeaway Your worldview determines your ethical stance. Themes faith morality existentialism Mood thought‑provoking serious Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - ethical debates - political activism - philosophical study Key Concepts theology political ideology Questions to Reflect On - Do you think morality can exist without belief in God? - How does belief influence social systems? A Different Perspective Faith alone may not guarantee moral behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheistic/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Existence of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-of-god/) [Heaven on earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-on-earth/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Tower of babel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tower-of-babel/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) ## Related quotes > [“For socialism is not merely the labour question, it is before all things the atheistic question, the question of the form taken by atheism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/for-socialism-is-not-merely-the-labour-question-it-is-before-all/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Hold your tongue, or I'll kill you! You'll kill me? No, excuse me, I will speak. I came to treat myself to that pleasure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/hold-your-tongue-or-i-ll-kill-you-you-ll-kill-me-no-excuse-me-i-will/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [ “\[The Devil\] 'The question now,' my young thinker reflected, 'is whether or not it is possible for such a period ever to come. If… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-devil-the-question-now-my-young-thinker-reflected-is-whether-or/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [God, immortality, duty - how inconceivable the first, how unbelievable the second, how peremptory and absolute the third.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/god-immortality-duty-how-inconceivable-the-first-how-unbelievable-the/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > ["God", "immortality of the soul", "redemption", "beyond" - Without exception, concepts to which I have never devoted any attention, or time; not even as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/god-immortality-of-the-soul-redemption-beyond-without-exception/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I believe in God and immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-campbell/i-believe-in-god-and-immortality/) [Alex Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-campbell/) > [The more you succeed in loving, the more you'll be convinced at the existence of God and the immortality of your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-more-you-succeed-in-loving-the-more-you-ll-be-convinced-at-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Calmness is the living breath of God's immortality in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/calmness-is-the-living-breath-of-god-s-immortality-in-you/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [A healthy nature needs no God or immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-healthy-nature-needs-no-god-or-immortality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What am I pondering, you ask? So help me God, immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-am-i-pondering-you-ask-so-help-me-god-immortality/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Of the eternal questions, nothing else: is there a God, is there immortality? And those who do not believe in God will talk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/of-the-eternal-questions-nothing-else-is-there-a-god-is-there/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If a man is at heart just, then in so far is he God; the safety of God, the immortality of God, the majesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-a-man-is-at-heart-just-then-in-so-far-is-he-god-the-safety-of-god/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Three words have often been used as the trumpet-call of men - the words God, Immortality, Duty - pronounced with terrible earnestness. How inconceivable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/three-words-have-often-been-used-as-the-trumpet-call-of-men-the-words/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Kant considers belief in God and immortality to be items of "faith" because he relates faith to the pursuit of ends - in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kant-considers-belief-in-god-and-immortality-to-be-items-of-faith/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [I believe in one, incomprehensible God, the immortality of the soul and eternal retribution for our acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-believe-in-one-incomprehensible-god-the-immortality-of-the-soul-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoyevsky > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. 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Better to set an example, better to just start - I have already started - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/listen-i-know-it-s-not-right-to-talk-better-to-set-an-example-better/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The morning was so damp and misty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-morning-was-so-damp-and-misty/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I repeat, I repeat with emphasis: all "direct" persons and men of action are active just because they are stupid and limited. How explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-repeat-i-repeat-with-emphasis-all-direct-persons-and-men-of-action/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“He is a man of intelligence, but to act sensibly, intelligence is not enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/he-is-a-man-of-intelligence-but-to-act-sensibly-intelligence-is-not/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [ “if \[God\] doesn't exist, man is the chief of the earth, of the universe. Magnificent! Only how is he going to be good without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/if-god-doesn-t-exist-man-is-the-chief-of-the-earth-of-the-universe/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“From an encounter in 1862... “Dickens told me,” Dostoyevsky recalled in a letter written years later, “that all the good, simple people in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/from-an-encounter-in-1862-dickens-told-me-dostoyevsky-recalled-in-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“It must be the top drawer," he reflected. "So she carries the keys in a pocket on the right. All in one bunch on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-must-be-the-top-drawer-he-reflected-so-she-carries-the-keys-in-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“- You take evil for good. It's a passing crisis. It's the result of your illness, perhaps. - You do despise me! It's simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/you-take-evil-for-good-it-s-a-passing-crisis-it-s-the-result-of-your/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Clouds overlaid the sky as with a shroud of mist, and everything looked sad, rainy, and threatening under a fine drizzle which was beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/clouds-overlaid-the-sky-as-with-a-shroud-of-mist-and-everything/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“People who can speak well, speak briefly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/people-who-can-speak-well-speak-briefly/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I think I could stand anything, any suffering, only to be able to say and to repeat to myself every moment, 'I exist.' In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-think-i-could-stand-anything-any-suffering-only-to-be-able-to-say/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“There is no more ceaseless or tormenting care for man, as long as he remains free, than to find someone to bow down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/there-is-no-more-ceaseless-or-tormenting-care-for-man-as-long-as-he/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) [Explore all 1,078 Fyodor Dostoyevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## 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. 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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? 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