--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe in the Supreme Being, in a…" description: "\"“I believe in the Supreme Being, in a Creator, whatever he may be. I care little who has placed us here below to fulfil our duties as citizens and fath..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg" --- # I believe in the Supreme Being, in a Creator, whatever he… ![“I believe in the Supreme Being, in a Creator, whatever he may be. I care little who has placed us here below to fulfil our duties as citizens and fathers of families; but I don't need to go to church to kiss silver plates, and fatten, out of my pocket, a lot of good-for-nothings who live better…” quote by Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg) > ““I believe in the Supreme Being, in a Creator, whatever he may be. I care little who has placed us here below to fulfil our duties as citizens and fathers of families; but I don't need to go to church to kiss silver plates, and fatten, out of my pocket, a lot of good-for-nothings who live better than we do. For one can know him as well in a wood, in a field, or even contemplating the eternal vault like the ancients. My God! mine is the God of Socrates, of Franklin, of Voltaire, and of Beranger! I am for the profession of faith of the 'Savoyard Vicar,' and the immortal principles of '89! And I can't admit of an old boy of a God who takes walks in his garden with a cane in his hand, who lodges his friends in the belly of whales, dies uttering a cry, and rises again at the end of three days; things absurd in themselves, and completely opposed, moreover, to all physical laws, which proves to us, by the way, that priests have always wallowed in turpid ignorance, in which they would fain engulf the people with them.”” [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith can be personal and direct, not confined to institutions; true belief may be found in nature and reason. **In simple terms:** Faith is personal, not institutional. Key Takeaway Seek personal connection with the divine. Themes faith individualism skepticism religion Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - personal reflection - nature walks - philosophical discussion Key Concepts personal belief institutional critique nature as sacred Questions to Reflect On - What personal experiences feel sacred to you? - How do you balance institutional religion with personal belief? A Different Perspective Religious traditions may limit personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Live better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-better/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“I have a religion, my own religion, and I even have more religion than all of them, with their mummery and hocus-pocus. I adore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-have-a-religion-my-own-religion-and-i-even-have-more-religion-than/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“I believe in Supreme Being, a Creator, whoever he may be, it's of no importance to me, who put us here on earth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-believe-in-supreme-being-a-creator-whoever-he-may-be-it-s-of-no/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“That Socrates should ever have been so treated by the Athenians!" Slave! why say "Socrates"? Speak of the thing as it is: That ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/that-socrates-should-ever-have-been-so-treated-by-the-athenians-slave/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Life is the force of the absolute, the supreme, the Creator who creates everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz/life-is-the-force-of-the-absolute-the-supreme-the-creator-who-creates/) [Miguel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz/) > [“If you believe, God is the supreme creator of everything, then God is also the one who gave you a brain. Use it. Likewise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-you-believe-god-is-the-supreme-creator-of-everything-then-god-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I cannot believe in God when there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a supreme being and creator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-cannot-believe-in-god-when-there-is-no-scientific-evidence-for-the/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I would confide to you perhaps my secret profession of faith - which is ... which is ... that let us say and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/i-would-confide-to-you-perhaps-my-secret-profession-of-faith-which-is/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [The doubts of an honest man contain more moral truth than the profession of faith of people under a worldly yoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ximenes-doudan/the-doubts-of-an-honest-man-contain-more-moral-truth-than-the/) Ximenes Doudan > [“Many believe that the new birth is caused by a profession of faith, but the situation is exactly reversed: A confession of faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-d-phillips/many-believe-that-the-new-birth-is-caused-by-a-profession-of-faith/) [Richard D. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-d-phillips/) > [Every life is a profession of faith, and exercises an inevitable and silent influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/every-life-is-a-profession-of-faith-and-exercises-an-inevitable-and/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [The world cannot always understand one's profession of faith, but it can understand service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-maclaren/the-world-cannot-always-understand-one-s-profession-of-faith-but-it/) [Ian Maclaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-maclaren/) > [For me, being an actress is not just a profession but a profession of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-adjani/for-me-being-an-actress-is-not-just-a-profession-but-a-profession-of/) [Isabelle Adjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-adjani/) > [Our words and our works are evidence that our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/our-words-and-our-works-are-evidence-that-our-profession-of-faith-in/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [“I bought new strings of colored lights. This served as a profession of faith in the future. I take the opportunity for such professions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-bought-new-strings-of-colored-lights-this-served-as-a-profession-of/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [When members unite with the church, they should not only make a profession of faith in Christ (that is essential), but in light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-adams/when-members-unite-with-the-church-they-should-not-only-make-a/) [Jay Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-adams/) ## More by Gustave Flaubert > [As for the piano, the faster her fingers flew over it, the more he marveled. She struck the keys with aplomb and ran from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-for-the-piano-the-faster-her-fingers-flew-over-it-the-more-he/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Caught up in life, you see it badly. You suffer from it or enjoy it too much. The artist, in my opinion, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/caught-up-in-life-you-see-it-badly-you-suffer-from-it-or-enjoy-it-too/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“When one does something, one must do it wholly and well. Those bastard existences where you sell suet all day and write poetry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-one-does-something-one-must-do-it-wholly-and-well-those-bastard/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Isn’t ‘not to be bored’ one of the principal goals of life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/isn-t-not-to-be-bored-one-of-the-principal-goals-of-life/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Love is a springtime plant that perfumes everything with its hope, even the ruins to which it clings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/love-is-a-springtime-plant-that-perfumes-everything-with-its-hope/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“But her life was as cold as an attic facing north; and boredom, like a silent spider, was weaving its web in the shadows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/but-her-life-was-as-cold-as-an-attic-facing-north-and-boredom-like-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [When you reduce a woman to writing, she makes you think of a thousand other women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-you-reduce-a-woman-to-writing-she-makes-you-think-of-a-thousand/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/travel-makes-one-modest-you-see-what-a-tiny-place-you-occupy-in-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-must-not-touch-our-idols-the-gilt-sticks-to-our-fingers/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [A superhuman will is needed in order to write, and I am only a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/a-superhuman-will-is-needed-in-order-to-write-and-i-am-only-a-man/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [The writer must wade into life as into the sea, but only up to the navel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/the-writer-must-wade-into-life-as-into-the-sea-but-only-up-to-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [COLD. Healthier than heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/cold-healthier-than-heat/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [And indeed, what is better than to sit by one's fireside in the evening with a book, while the wind beats against the window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/and-indeed-what-is-better-than-to-sit-by-one-s-fireside-in-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [One's existence should be in two parts: one should live like a bourgeois and think like a demigod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/one-s-existence-should-be-in-two-parts-one-should-live-like-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Emma was no asleep, she was pretending to be asleep; and, while he was dozing off at her side, she lay awake, dreaming other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/emma-was-no-asleep-she-was-pretending-to-be-asleep-and-while-he-was/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) [Explore all 526 Gustave Flaubert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## More Faith quotes > [“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/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [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/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I believe in the Supreme Being, in a Creator, whatever he may be. I care little who has placed us here below to fulfil our duties as citizens and fathers of families; but I don't need to go to church to kiss silver plates, and fatten, out of my pocket, a lot of good-for-nothings who live better than we do. For one can know him as well in a wood, in a field, or even contemplating the eternal vault like the ancients. My God! mine is the God of Socrates, of Franklin, of Voltaire, and of Beranger! I am for the profession of faith of the 'Savoyard Vicar,' and the immortal principles of '89! And I can't admit of an old boy of a God who takes walks in his garden with a cane in his hand, who lodges his friends in the belly of whales, dies uttering a cry, and rises again at the end of three days; things absurd in themselves, and completely opposed, moreover, to all physical laws, which proves to us, by the way, that priests have always wallowed in turpid ignorance, in which they would fain engulf the people with them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gustave Flaubert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-creator-whatever-he-may-be-i-care/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-creator-whatever-he-may-be-i-care/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/gustave-flaubert-354_faith_i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-crea_835463.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe in the Supreme Being, in a Creator, whatever he may be. I care little who has placed us here below…” — Gustave Flaubert", "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": "Gustave Flaubert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I believe in the Supreme Being,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-creator-whatever-he-may-be-i-care/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/i-believe-in-the-supreme-being-in-a-creator-whatever-he-may-be-i-care/#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 } } ] } ```