Athiesm Quote by Herman Wouk
““Religious people tend to encounter, among those who are not, a cemented certainty that belief in God is a crutch for the weak and the fearful...Now the belief in God may turn out at the last trump to be a mistake. Meantime, let us be quite clear, it is not merely the comfort of the simple--though it is that too, much to its glory--it is a formidable intellectual position with which most of the first-class minds of the human race, century in and century out, have concurred, each in his own way…speaking of crutches--Freud can be a crutch, Marx can be a crutch, rationalism can be a crutch, and atheism can be two canes and a pair of iron braces. We none of us have all the answers, nor are we likely to have. But in the country of the halt, the man who is surest he has no limp may be the worst-crippled.””
About This Quote
Belief systems serve as psychological supports for many, yet they can become limiting crutches; intellectual humility acknowledges uncertainty and the need for multiple perspectives.
In simple terms: Beliefs act as supports but can also limit thinking.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of any single worldview.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
belief
humility
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- debates
- personal reflection
- academic discourse
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
critical thinking
intellectual humility
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence challenges your core assumptions?
- How do you balance comfort with critical scrutiny?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on any belief can hinder open inquiry.
![“Scholars call it [the Torah] the Masoretic text. The Masoretes were Hebrew scribes of the first centuries of the present era. They fixed the wording and spelling of the Bible; since then it has not changed. It has long been a matter of critical controversy as to just how accurate the Masoretes…” quote by Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5b8/herman-wouk-7342_bible_scholars-call-it-the-torah-the-masoretic_39518.jpg)
