--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One may say with one's lips: 'I believe…" description: "\"One may say with one's lips: 'I believe that God is one, and also three' - but no one can believe it, because the words have no sense.\" — Leo Tolstoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png" --- # One may say with one's lips: 'I believe that God is one… ![“One may say with one's lips: 'I believe that God is one, and also three' - but no one can believe it, because the words have no sense.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png) > “One may say with one's lips: 'I believe that God is one, and also three' - but no one can believe it, because the words have no sense.” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement highlights the logical impossibility of believing contradictory divine concepts. **In simple terms:** Believing contradictory ideas is irrational. Key Takeaway Embrace logical consistency. Themes faith philosophy logic Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious debate - personal belief - theology - education Key Concepts trinitarian doctrine paradox Questions to Reflect On - Can faith coexist with paradox? - What role does mystery play in belief? A Different Perspective Faith may persist despite logical challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-god/) [Believe Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-words-249456/) [God Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-believe/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Words Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-sense-690526/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. Our life's battle is to appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-gods-and-devils-are-within-us-it-s/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“The sense they find in the words must be a sense small enough to pass through their narrow doors. And if mere words, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-sense-they-find-in-the-words-must-be-a-sense-small-enough-to-pass/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Short words but has big meaning is much better than lots words with no sense at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/short-words-but-has-big-meaning-is-much-better-than-lots-words-with/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [As long as we are not chased from our words we have nothing to fear. As long as our utterances keep their sound we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-jab-s/as-long-as-we-are-not-chased-from-our-words-we-have-nothing-to-fear/) [Edmond Jabes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-jab-s/) > [To use words to sense reality is like going with a lamp to search for darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/to-use-words-to-sense-reality-is-like-going-with-a-lamp-to-search-for/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“Words whose sense is the most ill-defined are sometimes those that possess the most influence. Such, for example, are the terms democracy, socialism, equality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-le-bon/words-whose-sense-is-the-most-ill-defined-are-sometimes-those-that/) [Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-le-bon/) > [Action can give us the feeling of being useful, but only words can give us a sense of weight and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/action-can-give-us-the-feeling-of-being-useful-but-only-words-can/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“Something is wrong with a sentence when you can delete words and not sense the loss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvan-barnet/something-is-wrong-with-a-sentence-when-you-can-delete-words-and-not/) [Sylvan Barnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvan-barnet/) > [I do believe in the Bible as the final word of God. And I do believe that God said the Earth would not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shimkus/i-do-believe-in-the-bible-as-the-final-word-of-god-and-i-do-believe/) [John Shimkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shimkus/) > [I've always said I don't believe in God, I believe in Al Pacino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/i-ve-always-said-i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-in-al-pacino/) [Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/) > [Just like I believe God is everywhere, I believe that whether it's nature, whether it's sitting on a bike in spin class, that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-rinna/just-like-i-believe-god-is-everywhere-i-believe-that-whether-it-s/) [Lisa Rinna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-rinna/) > [Believe in yourself more than you believe in other people .. , but believe in God more than you believe in yourself..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-fruitwala/believe-in-yourself-more-than-you-believe-in-other-people-but-believe/) [Himanshu Fruitwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-fruitwala/) > [Some people never know that they happen, some people never know that they had a shot to know whatever it is their dream is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-montgomery/some-people-never-know-that-they-happen-some-people-never-know-that/) [Ryan Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-montgomery/) > [Put your trust in God and dont depend on anyone, believe in God and believe in yourself then the sky is your limit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhimien-destiny-frank/put-your-trust-in-god-and-dont-depend-on-anyone-believe-in-god-and/) [Akhimien Destiny Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhimien-destiny-frank/) > [I have never come to know God, to see God, to believe in God through doing science. He's not the conclusion of some sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-coyne/i-have-never-come-to-know-god-to-see-god-to-believe-in-god-through/) [George Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-coyne/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“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/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One may say with one's lips: 'I believe that God is one, and also three' - but no one can believe it, because the words have no sense.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-that-god-is-one-and-also-three/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-that-god-is-one-and-also-three/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/leo-tolstoy-55_believe_one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-th_333887.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One may say with one's lips: 'I believe that God is one, and also three' - but no one can believe it…” — Leo Tolstoy", "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": "Leo Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One may say with one's lips:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-that-god-is-one-and-also-three/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/one-may-say-with-one-s-lips-i-believe-that-god-is-one-and-also-three/#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 } } ] } ```