--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is not with the faith, but…" description: "\"The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful\" — Kofi Annan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png" --- # The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful ![“The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png) > “The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful” [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The issue lies not in belief itself but in how believers act, often falling short of ideals. **In simple terms:** Faith is fine; believers can err. Key Takeaway Improve faithful conduct. Themes faith morality human behavior Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - faith education - community service - leadership workshops - policy making Key Concepts Ethical practice community responsibility spiritual integrity Questions to Reflect On - What actions reflect true faith? - How can communities foster better conduct? A Different Perspective May generalize diverse faith experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [The problem about Faith is when you have faith that the person you loved gonna come back to you while that person also have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-ntuli/the-problem-about-faith-is-when-you-have-faith-that-the-person-you/) Simphiwe Scientist Ntuli > [“Negativity is simply the devil's language spoken by those who have his perspective." God's language is faith. Nothing is impossible with God (see Matt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morris/negativity-is-simply-the-devil-s-language-spoken-by-those-who-have/) [Robert Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morris/) > [The most pressing question on the problem of faith is whether a man as a civilized being can believe in the divinity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-most-pressing-question-on-the-problem-of-faith-is-whether-a-man/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [It's a good time to say "Oh" and take stock and say, "Gee, how was I ethically this year?" That's the problem with faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/it-s-a-good-time-to-say-oh-and-take-stock-and-say-gee-how-was-i/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Faith is the problem. Faith is unreliable way to think about problems that will not lead to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-boghossian/faith-is-the-problem-faith-is-unreliable-way-to-think-about-problems/) [Peter Boghossian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-boghossian/) > [“When faith simplifies things that need to remain complex, instead of giving us strength to live with complexity, when it gives us answers where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-hirschfield/when-faith-simplifies-things-that-need-to-remain-complex-instead-of/) Brad Hirschfield > [I say that they can be solved; there is no problem that cannot be, but faith is necessary. Think of the faith I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-say-that-they-can-be-solved-there-is-no-problem-that-cannot-be-but/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“There are many things in our society masquerading as faith. What many see as faith may actually be just force of habit, patriotism, stubbornness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hemsworth/there-are-many-things-in-our-society-masquerading-as-faith-what-many/) William Hemsworth > [“faith is an initial and ongoing participation in the faith (i.e., faithful death) of Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-gorman/faith-is-an-initial-and-ongoing-participation-in-the-faith-i-e/) [Michael J. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-gorman/) > [We must never let fear... divert us from our faith and faithful living. Every person in every era has had to walk by faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-must-never-let-fear-divert-us-from-our-faith-and-faithful-living/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [I don't think that faith, whatever you're being faithful about, really can be scientifically explained. And I don't want to explain this whole life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-don-t-think-that-faith-whatever-you-re-being-faithful-about-really/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“To fight the fight of faith is to be faithful until the end of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-fight-the-fight-of-faith-is-to-be-faithful-until-the-end-of-life/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I have no faith in my faith. My faith is in the faithful God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-have-no-faith-in-my-faith-my-faith-is-in-the-faithful-god/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [It may be a procession of faithful failures that enriches the soil of godly success. Faithful actions are not religious acts. They are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-be-a-procession-of-faithful-failures-that-enriches-the-soil-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What the church most needs is not heroes of faith, but faithful followers of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/what-the-church-most-needs-is-not-heroes-of-faith-but-faithful/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) ## More by Kofi Annan > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/you-will-recall-that-for-months-after-9-11-there-was-incredible/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Some have suggested that ideally there must be some international body that would treat areas like the Arctic as a global commerce, a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/some-have-suggested-that-ideally-there-must-be-some-international/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We knew the Syrian situation was complex and there were lots of divisions, particularly on the side of the opposition... This is a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-knew-the-syrian-situation-was-complex-and-there-were-lots-of/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-question-is-the-morning-after-what-sort-of-iraq-do-we-wake-up-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I laugh a lot inside and outside, and at myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/i-laugh-a-lot-inside-and-outside-and-at-myself-sometimes/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/can-the-state-which-represents-the-whole-of-society-and-has-the-duty/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As long as inequality and other social problems plague us, populists will try to exploit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/as-long-as-inequality-and-other-social-problems-plague-us-populists/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The young and dynamic and idealistic people in the square do not have the chance to organise themselves politically, to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-young-and-dynamic-and-idealistic-people-in-the-square-do-not-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) [Explore all 366 Kofi Annan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [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/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kofi Annan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-with-the-faithful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-with-the-faithful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/kofi-annan-799_faith_the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-wi_2889043.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem is not with the faith, but with the faithful” — Kofi Annan", "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": "Kofi Annan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem is not with the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-with-the-faithful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-problem-is-not-with-the-faith-but-with-the-faithful/#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 } } ] } ```