--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No idea is ever dead until those who…" description: "\"No idea is ever dead until those who believe in it say it's dead.\" — James A. Michener" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/james-a-michener-1627_belief_no-idea-is-ever-dead-until-those-who-bel_1127013.jpg" --- # No idea is ever dead until those who believe in it say… ![“No idea is ever dead until those who believe in it say it's dead.” quote by James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/james-a-michener-1627_belief_no-idea-is-ever-dead-until-those-who-bel_1127013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/james-a-michener-1627_belief_no-idea-is-ever-dead-until-those-who-bel_1127013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b6/james-a-michener-1627_belief_no-idea-is-ever-dead-until-those-who-bel_1127013.jpg) > “No idea is ever dead until those who believe in it say it's dead.” [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas persist until their believers declare them obsolete, showing belief sustains concepts **In simple terms:** Ideas live as long as people keep believing in them Key Takeaway Maintain belief to keep ideas alive Themes belief ideas perseverance Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - social movements - scientific theories Key Concepts Philosophy psychology cultural persistence Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when an idea truly ends? - When should belief be challenged? A Different Perspective Blind belief may prevent progress ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-believe-1111362/) [Idea Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-dead-3077546/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [No idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-idea/) [Say Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-dead-583051/) ## Related quotes > [At some point, you have to declare an idea dead and, if not a failure, then at least not a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/at-some-point-you-have-to-declare-an-idea-dead-and-if-not-a-failure/) [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) > [To say the Constitution is living is to say that it's dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/to-say-the-constitution-is-living-is-to-say-that-it-s-dead/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Things die. But they don't always stay dead. Believe me, I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/things-die-but-they-don-t-always-stay-dead-believe-me-i-know/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When you're dead, you're dead. I believe in shapes - you're not conscious of it, but you're like a tree that grows but takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspar-noe/when-you-re-dead-you-re-dead-i-believe-in-shapes-you-re-not-conscious/) [Gaspar Noe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspar-noe/) > [I believe that when I am dead, I am dead. I believe that with my death I am just as much obliterated as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-believe-that-when-i-am-dead-i-am-dead-i-believe-that-with-my-death-2/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [The dead see what they believe they will see. So do the living. That is the secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-dead-see-what-they-believe-they-will-see-so-do-the-living-that-is/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“I believe that when I am dead, I am dead. I believe that with my death I am just as much obliterated as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-believe-that-when-i-am-dead-i-am-dead-i-believe-that-with-my-death/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“(D.L. Moody, who said in his dying days)In a little while you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Do not believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/d-l-moody-who-said-in-his-dying-days-in-a-little-while-you-will-read/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [“I’d say over my dead body, but I think you already made that point,” Michael snapped. “Thanks for the visit. Now fuck off, man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-d-say-over-my-dead-body-but-i-think-you-already-made-that-point/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [If you dont have anything nice to say... dead silence creates a lot awkwardness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rich/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-dead-silence-creates-a-lot/) [Jeff Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rich/) > [Customer service, they say, is dead. Actually, it isn't. It's just hiding behind a call center in Manila.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/customer-service-they-say-is-dead-actually-it-isn-t-it-s-just-hiding/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [Sneak out." He shrugged, as if that should have been a no-brainer. But that was easy for him to say. He was dead. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/sneak-out-he-shrugged-as-if-that-should-have-been-a-no-brainer-but/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [“Over my- I was going to say, 'over my dead body,' but- - michael”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/over-my-i-was-going-to-say-over-my-dead-body-but-michael/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Do you recall Fred Merriville?” She stared at him. “Fred Merriville? Pray, what has he to say to anything?” “The poor fellow has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/do-you-recall-fred-merriville-she-stared-at-him-fred-merriville-pray/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“This is all lie, she want to say to them. The dead are not hovering nearby to knock politely at teacups and tabletops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/this-is-all-lie-she-want-to-say-to-them-the-dead-are-not-hovering/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## More by James A. Michener > [ “\[Very rich people\] with brains make a great effort to hold on to every penny they have while preaching to the general population that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/very-rich-people-with-brains-make-a-great-effort-to-hold-on-to-every/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-writer-can-make-a-fortune-in-america-but-he-can-t-make-a-living/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [As a writer I have persisted in my uncertainty, alternating between novels which could charitably be considered literature and world reporting which by another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/as-a-writer-i-have-persisted-in-my-uncertainty-alternating-between/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [ . . . Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured \[England\] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditionalists-of-the-early-19th/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [I am terrified of restrictive religious doctrine, having learned from history that when men who adhere to any form of it are in control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-am-terrified-of-restrictive-religious-doctrine-having-learned-from/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [“This is not a promise, this is not threat, it's just the way it's gonna be!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/this-is-not-a-promise-this-is-not-threat-it-s-just-the-way-it-s-gonna/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [“We went into the night and for the first time in my life I saw the stars hanging low over the desert, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/we-went-into-the-night-and-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-saw-the/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [The rules seem to be these: If you have written a successful novel, everyone invites you to write short stories. If you have written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-rules-seem-to-be-these-if-you-have-written-a-successful-novel/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [“A Roman came to Rabbi Gimzo the Water Carrier, and asked, "What is this study of the law that you Jews engage in?" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-roman-came-to-rabbi-gimzo-the-water-carrier-and-asked-what-is-this/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/if-you-reject-the-food-ignore-the-customs-fear-the-religion-and-avoid/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-think-the-crucial-thing-in-the-writing-career-is-to-find-what-you/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [“The chance emergence of the was nothing. Remember this. But its persistence and patient accumulation of stature were everything. Only by relentless effort did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-chance-emergence-of-the-was-nothing-remember-this-but-its/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [During my lifetime I have met dozens of writers and photographers in dozens of different countries. But I have encountered no one who could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/during-my-lifetime-i-have-met-dozens-of-writers-and-photographers-in/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [My work as a naval officer in World War II enabled me to serve on 49 different South Pacific islands so that I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/my-work-as-a-naval-officer-in-world-war-ii-enabled-me-to-serve-on-49/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [The sense of belonging is one of the great gifts men get in battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-sense-of-belonging-is-one-of-the-great-gifts-men-get-in-battle/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) [Explore all 220 James A. Michener quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) ## 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": "No idea is ever dead until those who believe in it say it's dead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James A. 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