Belief in god Quote by John Galsworthy
““She stood and tried hard not to believe in God. It seemed mean and petty to have more belief in God when things were going well than when they were instinct with tragedy; just as it seemed mean and petty to pray to God when you wanted something badly, and not pray when you didn’t. But after all God was Eternal Mind that you couldn’t understand; God was not a loving Father that you could. The less she thought about all that the better.””
About This Quote
The speaker wrestles with the inconsistency of faith, feeling that belief in God seems selfish when life is easy and absent when suffering, ultimately viewing God as an incomprehensible eternal mind rather than a personal deity.
In simple terms: Faith feels hypocritical when tied to personal desire.
Key Takeaway
Belief can be a self‑serving rationalization.
Themes
faith
existentialism
hypocrisy
spirituality
human nature
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
personal
When to use this quote
- when life is smooth
- during personal tragedy
- seeking help
- questioning religion
- contemplating meaning
Key Concepts
God as concept
mind vs. deity
comfort in belief
skepticism
Practical Applications
- personal introspection
- philosophical writing
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we turn to belief in times of need?
- Can belief be meaningful without certainty?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that faith provides genuine comfort and community, regardless of its logical consistency.
![“Justice is a machine that, when someone has once given it the starting push, rolls on of itself. - John Galsworthy, Justice [1910], act II” quote by John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb0/john-galsworthy-4232_computers_justice-is-a-machine-that-when-someone-h_110831.jpg)
