--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great divide is not between faiths…" description: "\"The great divide is not between faiths, but one between intolerant zealots of any tradition and the large numbers of decent, peaceful believers likewis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg" --- # The great divide is not between faiths, but one between… ![“The great divide is not between faiths, but one between intolerant zealots of any tradition and the large numbers of decent, peaceful believers likewise found in each tradition.” quote by Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg) > “The great divide is not between faiths, but one between intolerant zealots of any tradition and the large numbers of decent, peaceful believers likewise found in each tradition.” [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intolerance, not differing faiths, fuels conflict; most believers are peaceful. **In simple terms:** Intolerance causes conflict, not faith differences. Key Takeaway Promote tolerance and dialogue. Themes religion intolerance peace dialogue Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - interfaith conferences - community workshops - online forums - educational curricula - media commentary Key Concepts social cohesion pluralism humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster empathy across traditions? - What actions reduce zealotry? A Different Perspective Even peaceful believers can become intolerant under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believers Likewise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believers-likewise-5566636/) [Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) [Divide Faiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide-faiths-5566632/) [Faiths Intolerant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faiths-intolerant-5566633/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Intolerant Zealots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerant-zealots-5566634/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Peaceful Believers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peaceful-believers-5566635/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [Saudi Arabia inflames the Sunni-Shiite divide and sets a pernicious example of intolerance by banning churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/saudi-arabia-inflames-the-sunni-shiite-divide-and-sets-a-pernicious/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Cancer essentially lives in us and becomes activated at some point, and then cells begin to psychotically divide. Initially, the cancer cell looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cancer-essentially-lives-in-us-and-becomes-activated-at-some-point/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inga-muscio/words-outlive-people-institutions-civilizations-words-spur-images/) [Inga Muscio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inga-muscio/) > [Grief can take of itself,but to get the full value from joy you must have somebody to divide it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/grief-can-take-of-itself-but-to-get-the-full-value-from-joy-you-must/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [Africa doesn't look like it's changed that much to me since I first went in '94. 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Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those who live by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/i-always-divide-people-into-two-groups-those-who-live-by-what-they/) [Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/) > [The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-forces-that-divide-us-are-not-as-strong-as-those-that-unite-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“The Republicrat Junta promotes our separation into fragmented ethnic, religious, and social groups, for well they know that to divide is to conquer. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-republicrat-junta-promotes-our-separation-into-fragmented-ethnic/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/but-it-is-impossible-to-divide-a-cube-into-two-cubes-or-a-fourth/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [In my first remarks as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to the agency's terrific staff, I stressed that one of my top priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/in-my-first-remarks-as-chairman-of-the-federal-communications/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) ## More by Nicholas Kristof > [I have a one-question language test that people who have lived abroad do better on than those who studied in a classroom. 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Vast numbers of young Mormons - increasingly women as well as men - spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/utah-may-well-be-the-most-cosmopolitan-state-in-america-vast-numbers/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Most of the time in the 21st century, we dominate our surroundings: We tweak the thermostat, and the temperature falls one degree. We push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/most-of-the-time-in-the-21st-century-we-dominate-our-surroundings-we/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [My take is that the optimal approach to food, for health and ethical reasons, may be vegetarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/my-take-is-that-the-optimal-approach-to-food-for-health-and-ethical/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Our world is enriched when coders and marketers dazzle us with smartphones and tablets, but, by themselves, they are just slabs. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/our-world-is-enriched-when-coders-and-marketers-dazzle-us-with/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [One of the most crucial kinds of intervention is in advocacy. We can think about charities in the context of delivering services, and indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/one-of-the-most-crucial-kinds-of-intervention-is-in-advocacy-we-can/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [There are very few things I've done just twice in my life, 40 years apart, and one is to backpack on the Pacific Crest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/there-are-very-few-things-i-ve-done-just-twice-in-my-life-40-years/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [We journalists are a bit like vultures, feasting on war, scandal and disaster. 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The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“If you have half a nothing - sell it for a double something, resell half at double-price, and buy another something and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/if-you-have-half-a-nothing-sell-it-for-a-double-something-resell-half/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [In my first remarks as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to the agency's terrific staff, I stressed that one of my top priorities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/in-my-first-remarks-as-chairman-of-the-federal-communications/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [But it is impossible to divide a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into fourth powers, or generally any power beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-fermat/but-it-is-impossible-to-divide-a-cube-into-two-cubes-or-a-fourth/) [Pierre de Fermat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-fermat/) > [“The Republicrat Junta promotes our separation into fragmented ethnic, religious, and social groups, for well they know that to divide is to conquer. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-republicrat-junta-promotes-our-separation-into-fragmented-ethnic/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [The forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-forces-that-divide-us-are-not-as-strong-as-those-that-unite-us/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I always divide people into two groups. Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those who live by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/i-always-divide-people-into-two-groups-those-who-live-by-what-they/) [Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/) > [“I’ve seen too many leaders misunderstand leadership for legacy. Even the most experienced leaders will divide instead of delegate and incite instead of unite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/i-ve-seen-too-many-leaders-misunderstand-leadership-for-legacy-even/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [“So how you’re gonna play this?” Trenton asked. “Divide and conquer.” “Divide what?” “His head from the rest of his body.” Trenton nodded quickly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/so-how-you-re-gonna-play-this-trenton-asked-divide-and-conquer-divide/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Africa doesn't look like it's changed that much to me since I first went in '94. There is still a major economic divide, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goapele/africa-doesn-t-look-like-it-s-changed-that-much-to-me-since-i-first/) [Goapele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goapele/) > [Grief can take of itself,but to get the full value from joy you must have somebody to divide it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/grief-can-take-of-itself-but-to-get-the-full-value-from-joy-you-must/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inga-muscio/words-outlive-people-institutions-civilizations-words-spur-images/) [Inga Muscio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inga-muscio/) > [Cancer essentially lives in us and becomes activated at some point, and then cells begin to psychotically divide. Initially, the cancer cell looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cancer-essentially-lives-in-us-and-becomes-activated-at-some-point/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) [Browse all 318 Divide quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divide/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great divide is not between faiths, but one between intolerant zealots of any tradition and the large numbers of decent, peaceful believers likewise found in each tradition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicholas Kristof" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-but-one-between-intolerant/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Divide" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-but-one-between-intolerant/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/nicholas-kristof-6723_divide_the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-b_3135984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great divide is not between faiths, but one between intolerant zealots of any tradition and the large…” — Nicholas Kristof", "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": "Nicholas Kristof", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The great divide is not between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-but-one-between-intolerant/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/the-great-divide-is-not-between-faiths-but-one-between-intolerant/#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 } } ] } ```