Believer Quote by Herman Melville
“Lo! ye believers in gods all goodness, and in man all ill, lo you! see the omniscient gods oblivious of suffering man; and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Sermon on the Mount" (parody), 1855
Human beings are flawed yet capable of love and gratitude despite divine indifference.
In simple terms: Flawed humans find love despite indifferent gods.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate love and gratitude despite suffering.
Themes
human nature
divine indifference
love
gratitude
existence
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- philosophical discourse
- spiritual contemplation
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
theodicy
humanism
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does gratitude play in suffering?
- How does belief in indifferent gods affect morality?
A Different Perspective
Some argue divine beings are not indifferent but actively involved.
![“I do not make decisions [as governor] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious classes in school. I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what . . . the law is.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_believer_i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-base_18031.jpg)
