--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Obituary of atheist philosopher Richard…" description: "\"“[Obituary of atheist philosopher Richard Robinson] An Atheist's Values is one of the best short accounts of liberalism (a term Robinson accepted) and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/nicolas-walter-98536_an-atheist-s-values_obituary-of-atheist-philosopher-richard_988296.jpg" --- # \[Obituary of atheist philosopher Richard Robinson\] An… ![“[Obituary of atheist philosopher Richard Robinson] An Atheist's Values is one of the best short accounts of liberalism (a term Robinson accepted) and humanism (a term he ignored) produced during the present century, all the more powerful for its lucidity and moderation, its wit and wisdom. It may…” quote by Nicolas Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/nicolas-walter-98536_an-atheist-s-values_obituary-of-atheist-philosopher-richard_988296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/nicolas-walter-98536_an-atheist-s-values_obituary-of-atheist-philosopher-richard_988296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/nicolas-walter-98536_an-atheist-s-values_obituary-of-atheist-philosopher-richard_988296.jpg) > ““\[Obituary of atheist philosopher Richard Robinson\] An Atheist's Values is one of the best short accounts of liberalism (a term Robinson accepted) and humanism (a term he ignored) produced during the present century, all the more powerful for its lucidity and moderation, its wit and wisdom. It may now seem old-fashioned, but during those confused alarms of struggle and fight between the ignorant armies of left and right, thousands of readers must have taken inspiration from Richard Robinson's rational defence of rationalism. It is a pity that it is now out of print, when there is still so much nonsense and so little sense in the world.”” [Nicolas Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-walter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Robinson's obituary highlights his rational, moderate humanism, urging readers to value clarity and wisdom amidst ideological conflict. **In simple terms:** Robinson championed rational, moderate humanism against polarized extremes. Key Takeaway Value clarity, moderation, and rational thought. Themes humanism rationalism moderation clarity wisdom ideological conflict Mood thoughtful respectful intellectual Type Atheism:1 Atheist:1 Humanism:1 Ignorant:0 Left and right:1 Liberalism:1 Moderation:1 Nonsense:0 Obituary:1 Philosophy:1 Rationalism:1 Reason:1 Sense:1 Struggle:0 Wisdom:1 Wit:1 Wit and wisdom:0 World:0 Atheist Values:0 Atheist Philosopher:0 Robinson Atheist:0 Obituary Atheist:0 When to use this quote - reading groups - academic seminars - public debates Key Concepts philosophical discourse ethical reasoning intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How can we apply his rational approach today? A Different Perspective May his ideas be seen as too moderate for radical change? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheist Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-philosopher-2007713/) [Atheist Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-values-2007712/) [Humanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanism/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Left and right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-and-right/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Moderation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moderation/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Obituary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obituary/) [Obituary Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obituary-atheist-2007715/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Rationalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalism/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Robinson Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robinson-atheist-2007714/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Wit and wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit-and-wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The problem of good as it faces the atheist is this: Nature, which is the nuts-and-bolts reality for the atheist, has no values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-of-good-as-it-faces-the-atheist-is-this-nature-which-is/) [William A. 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Hawk ignored the warning with the devil-may-care attitude that was his wont where the lasses were concerned. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/what-did-you-wish-for-grimm-hawk-ignored-the-warning-with-the-devil/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [No man is the wiser for his learning; it may administer matter to work in, or objects to work upon; but wit and wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/no-man-is-the-wiser-for-his-learning-it-may-administer-matter-to-work/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [ “The main thing that distinguishes mealtimes with Jesus, as Conrad Gempf has shown, from the meals of his contemporaries are four verbs.\[44\] Whether it’s… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/the-main-thing-that-distinguishes-mealtimes-with-jesus-as-conrad/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [Adam did not want the apple for the apple's sake; he wanted it because it was forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/adam-did-not-want-the-apple-for-the-apple-s-sake-he-wanted-it-because/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Most of you probably didn't know that I have a new book out. Some guy put together a collection of my wit and wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/most-of-you-probably-didn-t-know-that-i-have-a-new-book-out-some-guy/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. ― Mark Twain, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zan-marie-steadham/the-difference-between-the-right-word-and-the-almost-right-word-is-3/) [Zan Marie Steadham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zan-marie-steadham/) > [“You've got this, chief conductor of the brainwaves! Tune those thoughts like a radio station, and if the ego starts acting up, just hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lifeispositive-com/you-ve-got-this-chief-conductor-of-the-brainwaves-tune-those-thoughts/) [lifeispositive.com](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lifeispositive-com/) > [No man is wiser for his learning, wit and wisdom are born with a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/no-man-is-wiser-for-his-learning-wit-and-wisdom-are-born-with-a-man/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Just as it is the province of science to find out what the facts of life are, to classify them and use them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-dougall/just-as-it-is-the-province-of-science-to-find-out-what-the-facts-of/) [Lily Dougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-dougall/) ## More by Nicolas Walter > [Many people say that government is necessary because some men cannot be trusted to look after themselves, but anarchists say that government is harmful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-walter/many-people-say-that-government-is-necessary-because-some-men-cannot/) [Nicolas Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-walter/) [Explore all 2 Nicolas Walter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-walter/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. 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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/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. 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It may now seem old-fashioned, but during those confused alarms of struggle and fight between the ignorant armies of left and right, thousands of readers must have taken inspiration from Richard Robinson's rational defence of rationalism. 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