--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot affirm God if I fail to affirm…" description: "\"I cannot affirm God if I fail to affirm man. Therefore, I affirm both. Without a belief in human unity I am hungry and incomplete. Human unity is the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/norman-cousins-2488_belief_i-cannot-affirm-god-if-i-fail-to-affirm_3021449.jpg" --- # I cannot affirm God if I fail to affirm man. Therefore, I… ![“I cannot affirm God if I fail to affirm man. Therefore, I affirm both. Without a belief in human unity I am hungry and incomplete. Human unity is the fulfillment of diversity. It is the harmony of opposites. It is a many-stranded texture, with color and depth.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/norman-cousins-2488_belief_i-cannot-affirm-god-if-i-fail-to-affirm_3021449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/norman-cousins-2488_belief_i-cannot-affirm-god-if-i-fail-to-affirm_3021449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/norman-cousins-2488_belief_i-cannot-affirm-god-if-i-fail-to-affirm_3021449.jpg) > “I cannot affirm God if I fail to affirm man. Therefore, I affirm both. Without a belief in human unity I am hungry and incomplete. Human unity is the fulfillment of diversity. It is the harmony of opposites. It is a many-stranded texture, with color and depth.” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human unity completes diversity; recognizing both divine and human aspects fulfills our wholeness. **In simple terms:** Unity completes diversity. Key Takeaway Seek harmony between differences. Themes humanity unity diversity spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community building - interfaith dialogue - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance individuality with collective unity? - What practices foster genuine harmony? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on unity may ignore legitimate dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) ## Related quotes > [“I am a single cell in the body of four billion cells. The body is humankind. I am a single cell. My needs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/i-am-a-single-cell-in-the-body-of-four-billion-cells-the-body-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [To affirm that God is God is to want to live in a particular way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-volf/to-affirm-that-god-is-god-is-to-want-to-live-in-a-particular-way/) [Miroslav Volf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-volf/) > [But if you search further, you find in yourself nothing similar to God, but rather you affirm that God stands above all this as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-of-cusa/but-if-you-search-further-you-find-in-yourself-nothing-similar-to-god/) [Nicholas of Cusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-of-cusa/) > [We are here to affirm, not to deny... when we affirm all that is God, all that is not God is automatically denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/we-are-here-to-affirm-not-to-deny-when-we-affirm-all-that-is-god-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“To affirm the will of God in the midst of evil, therefore, is not to say that God wills everything that happens, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-inbody/to-affirm-the-will-of-god-in-the-midst-of-evil-therefore-is-not-to/) Tyron Inbody > [“ He had remained steadfast in agnosticism and therefore, as Mabel took comfort in remarking, 'he never denied God.' Neither did he affirm God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-v-bruce/he-had-remained-steadfast-in-agnosticism-and-therefore-as-mabel-took/) Robert V. Bruce > [In all "benedictions", be they expressing plea or thanksgiving, we affirm that God is the "source" of every bounty we enjoy and of every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-jakobovits-baron-jakobovits/in-all-benedictions-be-they-expressing-plea-or-thanksgiving-we-affirm/) [Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-jakobovits-baron-jakobovits/) > [However incoherent a human existence may be, human unity is not bothered by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/however-incoherent-a-human-existence-may-be-human-unity-is-not/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [If God and man are in themselves one, and if religion is the human side of this unity then must this unity be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-friedrich-strauss/if-god-and-man-are-in-themselves-one-and-if-religion-is-the-human/) [David Friedrich Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-friedrich-strauss/) > [Human unity is not something we are called on to create — only something we are called on to recognize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/human-unity-is-not-something-we-are-called-on-to-create-only/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [The phrase 'Sense of the Earth' should be understood to mean the passionate concern for our common destiny which draws the thinking part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/the-phrase-sense-of-the-earth-should-be-understood-to-mean-the/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [As one who knows many things, the humanist loves the world precisely because of its manifold nature and the opposing forces in itdo not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/as-one-who-knows-many-things-the-humanist-loves-the-world-precisely/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [A congregational prayer is a means for establishing essential human unity though common worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-congregational-prayer-is-a-means-for-establishing-essential-human/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I think we're in a new era where the advancing tide is towards human unity, where people all around the world want to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/i-think-we-re-in-a-new-era-where-the-advancing-tide-is-towards-human/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [Before the thunderous clamor of political debate or war set loose in the world, love insisted on its promise for the possibility of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/before-the-thunderous-clamor-of-political-debate-or-war-set-loose-in/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [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/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [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/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I cannot affirm God if I fail to affirm man. Therefore, I affirm both. Without a belief in human unity I am hungry and incomplete. Human unity is the fulfillment of diversity. It is the harmony of opposites. 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