--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Belief is knowing what you believe…" description: "\"Belief is knowing what you believe. Conviction is knowing why you believe it.\" — Josh McDowell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/josh-mcdowell-4194_belief_belief-is-knowing-what-you-believe-convi_1752759.png" --- # Belief is knowing what you believe. Conviction is knowing… ![“Belief is knowing what you believe. Conviction is knowing why you believe it.” quote by Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/josh-mcdowell-4194_belief_belief-is-knowing-what-you-believe-convi_1752759.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/josh-mcdowell-4194_belief_belief-is-knowing-what-you-believe-convi_1752759.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eff/josh-mcdowell-4194_belief_belief-is-knowing-what-you-believe-convi_1752759.png) > “Belief is knowing what you believe. Conviction is knowing why you believe it.” [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Belief is the acceptance of an idea; conviction adds the reasoning behind it. **In simple terms:** Belief accepts; conviction explains. Key Takeaway Seek reasons behind your beliefs. Themes philosophy psychology personal growth Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - debates - educational workshops Key Concepts critical thinking faith motivation Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your core beliefs? - How do you handle conflicting convictions? A Different Perspective Conviction can become rigid, limiting openness to new evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ## Related quotes > [“Whatever you believe, with conviction, becomes your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/whatever-you-believe-with-conviction-becomes-your-reality/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Everybody has their own path. I just believe that with conviction and discipline you can make anything happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-tayeh/everybody-has-their-own-path-i-just-believe-that-with-conviction-and/) Sonya Tayeh > [The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-trouble-with-this-country-is-that-there-are-too-many-politicians/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Keep the faith, Whatever you believe in, Believe with conviction!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/keep-the-faith-whatever-you-believe-in-believe-with-conviction/) [RICARDO HOUSHAM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [To move ahead you need to believe in yourself...have conviction in your beliefs and the confidence to execute those beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlin-sinclair/to-move-ahead-you-need-to-believe-in-yourself-have-conviction-in-your/) [Adlin Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlin-sinclair/) > [“Search without knowing who he is, but believe that you will recognize him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-lechermeier/search-without-knowing-who-he-is-but-believe-that-you-will-recognize/) Philippe Lechermeier > [The art of living is the art of knowing how to believe lies. The fearful thing about it is that, not knowing what truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/the-art-of-living-is-the-art-of-knowing-how-to-believe-lies-the/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I thought being an adult meant knowing what you believe, but that has not been my experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-thought-being-an-adult-meant-knowing-what-you-believe-but-that-has/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [There is no stimulus like that which comes from the consciousness of knowing that others believe in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/there-is-no-stimulus-like-that-which-comes-from-the-consciousness-of/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [The world doesn't want you to know. They want you to believe. But there is a big difference between believing and knowing. Should you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prem-rawat/the-world-doesn-t-want-you-to-know-they-want-you-to-believe-but-there/) [Prem Rawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prem-rawat/) > [You are my home, you are my love & you bring out the best in me. Just knowing you believe in me, makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wandini/you-are-my-home-you-are-my-love-you-bring-out-the-best-in-me-just/) [Wandini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wandini/) > [The art of living is the art of knowing how to believe lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/the-art-of-living-is-the-art-of-knowing-how-to-believe-lies/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“When you believe without knowing you believe that you are damaged at your core, you also believe that you need to hide that damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/when-you-believe-without-knowing-you-believe-that-you-are-damaged-at/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I hate not knowing what to believe anymore. I hate not knowing what's real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/i-hate-not-knowing-what-to-believe-anymore-i-hate-not-knowing-what-s/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [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/) ## More by Josh McDowell > [“People naturally have questions. They always have and always will. One of the key functions of apologetics, then, is to respond to questions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/people-naturally-have-questions-they-always-have-and-always-will-one/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Why don't the names of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius offend people? The reason is that these others didn't claim to be God, but Jesus did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/why-don-t-the-names-of-buddha-mohammed-confucius-offend-people-the/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [I've never had anyone define purity. You probably can't define purity. Purity is to live according to original design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/i-ve-never-had-anyone-define-purity-you-probably-can-t-define-purity/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [If Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, and He did die on a cross at a point of time in history, then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/if-jesus-christ-was-who-he-claimed-to-be-and-he-did-die-on-a-cross-at/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [The New Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background against which the resurrection took place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/the-new-testament-witnesses-were-fully-aware-of-the-background/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [One who claimed what Jesus claimed about himself couldn't be a good moral man or a prophet. That option isn't open to us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/one-who-claimed-what-jesus-claimed-about-himself-couldn-t-be-a-good/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [“God placed humans on a plateau above the rest of creation when he fashioned them in his relational image and likeness. To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/god-placed-humans-on-a-plateau-above-the-rest-of-creation-when-he/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/after-more-than-700-hours-of-studying-this-subject-and-thoroughly/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Where I once constantly lost my temper, I found myself arriving at a crisis and experiencing peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/where-i-once-constantly-lost-my-temper-i-found-myself-arriving-at-a/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [We no longer live in a post-Christian society, we live in an anti-Christian society, one in which the Christian faith is dismissed or ridiculed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/we-no-longer-live-in-a-post-christian-society-we-live-in-an-anti/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [True love is spelled G-I-V-E. It is not based on what you can get, but rooted in what you can give to the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/true-love-is-spelled-g-i-v-e-it-is-not-based-on-what-you-can-get-but/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Stephen L. Carter coined the phrase 'the culture of disbelief' to describe the prevailing hostility in Western culture toward public expressions of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/stephen-l-carter-coined-the-phrase-the-culture-of-disbelief-to/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [On that Sunday morning the first thing that impressed the people who approached the tomb was the unusual position of the one and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/on-that-sunday-morning-the-first-thing-that-impressed-the-people-who/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [What you are as a single person, you will be as a married person, only to a greater degree. Any negative character trait will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/what-you-are-as-a-single-person-you-will-be-as-a-married-person-only/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [Whenever you do judge, the only basis of judgment is not your own perspective or anything else, it's the very character and nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/whenever-you-do-judge-the-only-basis-of-judgment-is-not-your-own/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) [Explore all 113 Josh McDowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) ## 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": "Belief is knowing what you believe. 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