--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Under the circumstances the only honest…" description: "\"“Under the circumstances the only honest answer an intelligent person can give to the question ‘Is there a God?’ is to say, ‘I do not know.”\" — Khushwa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg" --- # Under the circumstances the only honest answer an… ![“Under the circumstances the only honest answer an intelligent person can give to the question ‘Is there a God?’ is to say, ‘I do not know.” quote by Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg) > ““Under the circumstances the only honest answer an intelligent person can give to the question ‘Is there a God?’ is to say, ‘I do not know.”” [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligent honesty admits uncertainty about divine existence rather than pretending certainty. **In simple terms:** Admit uncertainty about God. Key Takeaway Embrace honest doubt. Themes philosophy religion intellectual honesty Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - theological debates - personal reflection - academic discourse Key Concepts skepticism existential inquiry humility Questions to Reflect On - How does uncertainty affect belief? - Can honest doubt coexist with faith? A Different Perspective Some may view doubt as lack of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-intelligent-3630158/) [Circumstances Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-honest-3630157/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-answer-385256/) [Intelligent person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-person/) [Question God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-god/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [You ask me a question, I'm going to give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/you-ask-me-a-question-i-m-going-to-give-you-an-honest-answer/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [When it is a question of God's almighty Spirit, never say, 'I can't.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-it-is-a-question-of-god-s-almighty-spirit-never-say-i-can-t/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I don't question God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-osteen/i-don-t-question-god/) [Victoria Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-osteen/) > [Whatever questions I ask, will you give me an honest answer? Do you love me? why do you blush look away and say no?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/whatever-questions-i-ask-will-you-give-me-an-honest-answer-do-you/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [If you ask me an honest question, I am going to give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cline/if-you-ask-me-an-honest-question-i-am-going-to-give-you-an-honest/) [Matt Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cline/) > [My honest answer to what's going to happen to the future of jobs is I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/my-honest-answer-to-what-s-going-to-happen-to-the-future-of-jobs-is-i/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [An honest answer should never upset anyone... if it does, then maybe they shouldn't have asked the question ~ Big Al Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-al-connolly/an-honest-answer-should-never-upset-anyone-if-it-does-then-maybe-they/) [Big Al Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-al-connolly/) > [It's normally agreed that the question 'How are you?' doesn't put you on your oath to give a full or honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-normally-agreed-that-the-question-how-are-you-doesn-t-put-you-on/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's something I've always done - speak my mind - and it's not always in my best interest to do that. But if someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/it-s-something-i-ve-always-done-speak-my-mind-and-it-s-not-always-in/) [Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/) > [To the God in myself is probably the most honest answer. I think everybody has a divine destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/to-the-god-in-myself-is-probably-the-most-honest-answer-i-think/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Good country music is kind of like getting a straight, honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-wagoner/good-country-music-is-kind-of-like-getting-a-straight-honest-answer/) [Porter Wagoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-wagoner/) > [“Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible-proverbs-24-26/like-a-kiss-on-the-lips-is-the-one-who-gives-an-honest-answer/) [Bible Proverbs 24 26](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible-proverbs-24-26/) > [I'm the person that you don't ask for an honest opinion from because I will actually give you an honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-m-the-person-that-you-don-t-ask-for-an-honest-opinion-from-because/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The correct answer is the honest answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/the-correct-answer-is-the-honest-answer/) [Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/) > [An honest answer is the sign of a true friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/an-honest-answer-is-the-sign-of-a-true-friendship/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## More by Khushwant Singh > [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“Freedom is for the educated people who fought for it. We were slaves of the English, now we will be slaves of the educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/freedom-is-for-the-educated-people-who-fought-for-it-we-were-slaves/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“There are many ways of attaining godhood, say teachers of religion. Acharya Rajneesh disagrees and says there is only one way, and sexual intercourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/there-are-many-ways-of-attaining-godhood-say-teachers-of-religion/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [I don't want to be cremated, I want to be buried. I don't believe in wasting wood and I feel that one should give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-don-t-want-to-be-cremated-i-want-to-be-buried-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“I am back in my beloved city. The scene of desolation fills my eyes with tears. At every step my distress and agitation increases.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-am-back-in-my-beloved-city-the-scene-of-desolation-fills-my-eyes/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“One Sikh may argue with one Sikh. One Sikh must never argue with two Sikhs–certainly not after dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/one-sikh-may-argue-with-one-sikh-one-sikh-must-never-argue-with-two/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [ I had lots of time to read \[being a lawyer\] what I hadn't read in my school and college days. Being a bad student… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-had-lots-of-time-to-read-being-a-lawyer-what-i-hadn-t-read-in-my/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [No one has invented a condom for the pen yet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/no-one-has-invented-a-condom-for-the-pen-yet/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [ I have never, in 50 years, ever missed a deadline \[as a journalist\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-have-never-in-50-years-ever-missed-a-deadline-as-a-journalist/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“poverty which had celebrated a hundred thousand silver and golden jubilees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/poverty-which-had-celebrated-a-hundred-thousand-silver-and-golden/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“He told us of an incident from the life of the Prophet Musa. Musa heard a poor shepherd praying: ‘Where art Thou that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/he-told-us-of-an-incident-from-the-life-of-the-prophet-musa-musa/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [The last to learn of gossip are the parties concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/the-last-to-learn-of-gossip-are-the-parties-concerned/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [I haven't any close friends. Friendship needs time to interact, sit down, gossip. I don't have that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-haven-t-any-close-friends-friendship-needs-time-to-interact-sit/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [I still think that the point of reference for every Indian when he is in doubt on any political or social issue is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-still-think-that-the-point-of-reference-for-every-indian-when-he-is/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [Nature provides that a man who slaves all day should spend the hours of the night in a palace full of houris whereas a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/nature-provides-that-a-man-who-slaves-all-day-should-spend-the-hours/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) [Explore all 75 Khushwant Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) ## More Honest quotes > [How strong is a faith that can't stand up to a few honest questions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-c-davis/how-strong-is-a-faith-that-can-t-stand-up-to-a-few-honest-questions/) [Kenneth C. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-c-davis/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Tobacco is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/tobacco-is-the-passion-of-honest-men-and-he-who-lives-without-tobacco/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“RIGHT Do you do what feels right or what is seen right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-downer/right-do-you-do-what-feels-right-or-what-is-seen-right/) [Kitty Downer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-downer/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I don't know - to be honest, I don't really model myself after anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-don-t-know-to-be-honest-i-don-t-really-model-myself-after-anybody/) [Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/) > [There's a certain edge about cruelty. If you're honest about it, most people wince, but say it had to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-waterman/there-s-a-certain-edge-about-cruelty-if-you-re-honest-about-it-most/) [Pete Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-waterman/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [I used to not be really honest with girls and then I dropped a song called Starry Room and then I started turning over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-smith/i-used-to-not-be-really-honest-with-girls-and-then-i-dropped-a-song/) [Jaden Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-smith/) > [Fuck perfect, I want honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djsovviet/fuck-perfect-i-want-honest/) [Djsovviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djsovviet/) > [If I'm honest, I think everything is funny. You've just got to find the right way in. When I'm at my happiest and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcintyre/if-i-m-honest-i-think-everything-is-funny-you-ve-just-got-to-find-the/) [Michael McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcintyre/) > [I think managers see that I am honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lallana/i-think-managers-see-that-i-am-honest/) [Adam Lallana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lallana/) [Browse all 7,016 Honest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Under the circumstances the only honest answer an intelligent person can give to the question ‘Is there a God?’ is to say, ‘I do not know.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Khushwant Singh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest-answer-an-intelligent-person/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Honest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest-answer-an-intelligent-person/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/khushwant-singh-9061_honest_under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest_2826806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Under the circumstances the only honest answer an intelligent person can give to the question ‘Is there a…” — Khushwant Singh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Khushwant Singh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Under the circumstances the only honest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest-answer-an-intelligent-person/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/under-the-circumstances-the-only-honest-answer-an-intelligent-person/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```