--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That fear first created the gods is…" description: "\"That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject.\" — George Santayana" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/george-santayana-478_fear_that-fear-first-created-the-gods-is-perh_2447746.png" --- # That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as… ![“That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject.” quote by George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/george-santayana-478_fear_that-fear-first-created-the-gods-is-perh_2447746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/george-santayana-478_fear_that-fear-first-created-the-gods-is-perh_2447746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/george-santayana-478_fear_that-fear-first-created-the-gods-is-perh_2447746.png) > “That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject.” [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings create deities to explain unknowns, but this tendency may be as fleeting as any brief belief about vast subjects. **In simple terms:** People invent gods to fill gaps in understanding. Key Takeaway Question the origins of your beliefs. Themes belief mythmaking human nature epistemology Mood thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - religious discourse - philosophical debate - personal introspection Key Concepts existentialism psychology cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - Why do we create comforting narratives? - What are the costs of unexamined beliefs? A Different Perspective Belief in gods can limit critical inquiry and adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Fear first created the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/fear-first-created-the-gods/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Fear created gods; audacity created kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosper-jolyot-de-crebillon/fear-created-gods-audacity-created-kings/) Prosper Jolyot de Crebillon > [“If we go back to the beginning we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach-2/if-we-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-shall-find-that-ignorance-and-fear/) Baron D. Holbach > [Fear created the first gods in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caecilius-statius/fear-created-the-first-gods-in-the-world/) Caecilius Statius > [In the selfish world only gods can give you true love, how over it's your misfortune that you can not find gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/in-the-selfish-world-only-gods-can-give-you-true-love-how-over-it-s/) Mak\_786 > [As for our gods, we have a few too many to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/as-for-our-gods-we-have-a-few-too-many-to-be-true/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [The situation that women were in, at the time, was something that Dumas doesn't really go into, but it's a great subject to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-hodges/the-situation-that-women-were-in-at-the-time-was-something-that-dumas/) [Adrian Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-hodges/) > [A great man will find a great subject, or which is the same thing, make any subject great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-great-man-will-find-a-great-subject-or-which-is-the-same-thing-make/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [They're classic themes, which is why I think it's such a great story to look at again. 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