--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The starting point for a better world is…" description: "\"The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.\" — Norman Cousins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png" --- # The starting point for a better world is the belief that… ![“The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png) > “The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.” [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. Believing that a better world is possible is the essential first step toward creating it. **In simple terms:** Hope fuels change. Key Takeaway Cultivate belief in possibility. Themes optimism hope change social progress activism Mood motivational determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - policy reform - community projects - education - media campaigns Key Concepts Visionary thinking collective action Questions to Reflect On - What concrete actions can you take to support a better world? - How does belief translate into effort? A Different Perspective Idealism can clash with practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-possible-1163933/) [Better world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-world/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-point/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-belief-231946/) ## Related quotes > [The start to a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/the-start-to-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is-possible/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [I'm still trying to express my truth, my place in the world, my belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/i-m-still-trying-to-express-my-truth-my-place-in-the-world-my-belief/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) > [He is dead in this world who has no belief in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/he-is-dead-in-this-world-who-has-no-belief-in-another/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Up until the 20th century, traditional cultures (and this is still true of most cultures in the world) always believed that too high a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/up-until-the-20th-century-traditional-cultures-and-this-is-still-true/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Positive belief in yourself will give you the energy needed to conquer the world and this belief is the power behind all creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/positive-belief-in-yourself-will-give-you-the-energy-needed-to/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [Belief is reassuring. People who live in the world of belief feel safe. On the contrary, faith is forever placing us on the razor's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/belief-is-reassuring-people-who-live-in-the-world-of-belief-feel-safe/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Faith is the means by which we are able to see this invisible world.That is belief's true function.Faith is to the spiritual realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianette-carbito/faith-is-the-means-by-which-we-are-able-to-see-this-invisible-world/) [Marianette Carbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianette-carbito/) > [Religion is a belief in supernatural entities or forces that have an effect on the natural world - A belief in forces that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-christina/religion-is-a-belief-in-supernatural-entities-or-forces-that-have-an/) [Greta Christina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-christina/) > [It was Christianity which first painted the devil on the worlds walls; It was Christianity which first brought sin into the world. Belief in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-was-christianity-which-first-painted-the-devil-on-the-worlds-walls/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [A person can do other things against his will, but belief is possible only in one who is willing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-person-can-do-other-things-against-his-will-but-belief-is-possible/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Success does not come through grades, degrees or distinctions. It comes through experiences that expand your belief in what is possible" -Matea”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/success-does-not-come-through-grades-degrees-or-distinctions-it-comes/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [“At the heart of this story, I think, is a simple, abiding belief: it is possible to live wisely on the land, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-l-pez/at-the-heart-of-this-story-i-think-is-a-simple-abiding-belief-it-is/) [Barry López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-l-pez/) > [Steve Fossett and I would share a common belief that it is possible and good to challenge yourself to the extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cope/steve-fossett-and-i-would-share-a-common-belief-that-it-is-possible/) [Tim Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cope/) > [It is startling to realize how much unbelief is necessary to make belief possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-startling-to-realize-how-much-unbelief-is-necessary-to-make/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I do have a residual belief that, if at all possible, you should try not to mock the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hislop/i-do-have-a-residual-belief-that-if-at-all-possible-you-should-try/) [Ian Hislop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hislop/) ## 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 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/) > [“Some people don't really know enough to make a pronouncement of doom on a human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/some-people-don-t-really-know-enough-to-make-a-pronouncement-of-doom/) [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": "The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb8/norman-cousins-2488_belief_the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is_144334.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.” — Norman Cousins", "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": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The starting point for a better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/#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 } } ] } ```