--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But there are not a few who would be…" description: "\"But there are not a few who would be indignant at having their belief in God questioned, who yet seem greatly to fear imagining Him better than He is.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png" --- # But there are not a few who would be indignant at having… ![“But there are not a few who would be indignant at having their belief in God questioned, who yet seem greatly to fear imagining Him better than He is.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png) > “But there are not a few who would be indignant at having their belief in God questioned, who yet seem greatly to fear imagining Him better than He is.” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning God can be unsettling, yet fearing a better God shows deep reverence. **In simple terms:** Fear of a higher God reveals devotion. Key Takeaway Embrace humble inquiry. Themes faith fear belief Mood contemplative thoughtful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - theological study - interfaith dialogue - spiritual crisis Key Concepts theology humility Questions to Reflect On - How does fear shape your faith? - Can doubt coexist with devotion? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fear can hinder open exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-in-god/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Indignant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indignant/) ## Related quotes > [From the Rabbis of the early Talmudic age I learned that there is never a last word on God. There's, you always continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/from-the-rabbis-of-the-early-talmudic-age-i-learned-that-there-is/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“Having belief means not just expecting others to meet our standards, but also being consistent and trustworthy in fulfilling our own assurances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-pokhrel/having-belief-means-not-just-expecting-others-to-meet-our-standards/) [Suman Pokhrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-pokhrel/) > [The truest definition of faith is having the belief you're going somewhere that you can't see, whether it's religion or football or learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-bielema/the-truest-definition-of-faith-is-having-the-belief-you-re-going/) [Bret Bielema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-bielema/) > [There is a significant difference between having no belief in a God and believing there is no God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/there-is-a-significant-difference-between-having-no-belief-in-a-god/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [In science, a healthy skepticism is a professional necessity, whereas in religion, having belief without evidence is regarded as a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/in-science-a-healthy-skepticism-is-a-professional-necessity-whereas/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [Having a belief in God, being able to find joy, despite your circumstances or put yourself outside of yourself, and stop looking inwards and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/having-a-belief-in-god-being-able-to-find-joy-despite-your/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I was putting too much stress on my body and not living a healthy life style, I wasn't taking care of myself. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-assaraf/i-was-putting-too-much-stress-on-my-body-and-not-living-a-healthy/) [John Assaraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-assaraf/) > [Every day that we allow ourselves to take things for granted, every day that we allow some little physical infirmity or worldly worry to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/every-day-that-we-allow-ourselves-to-take-things-for-granted-every/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [My first spoken word poem, packed with all the wisdom of a 14-year-old, was about the injustice of being seen as unfeminine. The poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/my-first-spoken-word-poem-packed-with-all-the-wisdom-of-a-14-year-old/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [“The nakedness of the indignant world may be cloathed from the trimmings of the vain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-nakedness-of-the-indignant-world-may-be-cloathed-from-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Too often people enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought, never taking a principled stand. True justice will never come until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kweisi-mfume/too-often-people-enjoy-the-comfort-of-opinion-without-the-discomfort/) [Kweisi Mfume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kweisi-mfume/) > [You must learn day by day, year by year to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-barrymore/you-must-learn-day-by-day-year-by-year-to-broaden-your-horizon-the/) [Ethel Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-barrymore/) > [How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?' she whispered, after some time of delicious silence. 'Let me speak to her.' 'Oh, no! I owe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/how-shall-i-ever-tell-aunt-shaw-she-whispered-after-some-time-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Your indignant behavior over the slightest perceived gender inequality makes it almost certain that inequality is what you masturbate to at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-thomas/your-indignant-behavior-over-the-slightest-perceived-gender/) [Kitty Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-thomas/) > [Many a cat can only be lured in by switching off all the lights and keeping very still. Until the indignant cry of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/many-a-cat-can-only-be-lured-in-by-switching-off-all-the-lights-and/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [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/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [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/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But there are not a few who would be indignant at having their belief in God questioned, who yet seem greatly to fear imagining Him better than He is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-indignant-at-having-their-belief/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-indignant-at-having-their-belief/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/george-macdonald-295_belief_but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-ind_2473245.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But there are not a few who would be indignant at having their belief in God questioned, who yet seem…” — George MacDonald", "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": "George MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But there are not a few...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-indignant-at-having-their-belief/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/but-there-are-not-a-few-who-would-be-indignant-at-having-their-belief/#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 } } ] } ```