--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not possible to be intellectually…" description: "\"“It is not possible to be intellectually honest and believe in gods. And it is not possible to believe in gods and be a true scientist.”\" — P.W. Atkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/p-w-atkins-58341_atheism_it-is-not-possible-to-be-intellectually_1955156.jpg" --- # It is not possible to be intellectually honest and believe… ![“It is not possible to be intellectually honest and believe in gods. And it is not possible to believe in gods and be a true scientist.” quote by P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/p-w-atkins-58341_atheism_it-is-not-possible-to-be-intellectually_1955156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/p-w-atkins-58341_atheism_it-is-not-possible-to-be-intellectually_1955156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/p-w-atkins-58341_atheism_it-is-not-possible-to-be-intellectually_1955156.jpg) > ““It is not possible to be intellectually honest and believe in gods. And it is not possible to believe in gods and be a true scientist.”” [P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intellectual honesty conflicts with belief in deities; true science demands evidence‑based worldview. **In simple terms:** Science and belief in gods clash. Key Takeaway Prioritize evidence in thinking. Themes science belief honesty Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - academic research - public policy debates - personal worldview Key Concepts epistemology skepticism faith vs reason Questions to Reflect On - Can belief coexist with scientific method? - What defines “true” science? A Different Perspective Many scientists hold personal faith without compromising rigor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Believe in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-god/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) ## Related quotes > [We begin with the hypothesis that any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bruner/we-begin-with-the-hypothesis-that-any-subject-can-be-taught/) [Jerome Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bruner/) > [I don't believe there is a God. If I were to believe in a god, l would believe in gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-don-t-believe-there-is-a-god-if-i-were-to-believe-in-a-god-l-would/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [It was man who first made men believe in gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/critias/it-was-man-who-first-made-men-believe-in-gods/) [Critias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/critias/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [If I were to believe in a god l would believe in gods. I think monotheism is the really ghastly thing. That is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-i-were-to-believe-in-a-god-l-would-believe-in-gods-i-think/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [It must be so hard to cope with death if you don't believe in Gods plan and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-must-be-so-hard-to-cope-with-death-if-you-don-t-believe-in-gods/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. 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But I'm not used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/except-if-i-m-totally-honest-i-do-believe-it-reid-likes-me-and-i-like/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [At 19, I basically held the position that if you were intellectually honest and really wanted to get in touch with political reality then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-metzinger/at-19-i-basically-held-the-position-that-if-you-were-intellectually/) [Thomas Metzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-metzinger/) > [You have to be intellectually honest with yourself and others. In my judgment, all great investors are seekers of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steinhardt/you-have-to-be-intellectually-honest-with-yourself-and-others-in-my/) [Michael Steinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steinhardt/) ## More by P.W. Atkins > [ “\[Religious belief is\] outmoded and ridiculous. \[Belief in gods was a\] worn out but once useful crutch in mankind's journey towards truth. We consider… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-atkins/religious-belief-is-outmoded-and-ridiculous-belief-in-gods-was-a-worn/) [P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) > [“Theologians could not even agree about the nature of their gods. These personages ranged from "blue touch-paper gods" who started everything and never interfered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-atkins/theologians-could-not-even-agree-about-the-nature-of-their-gods-these/) [P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) > [ “\[Religion is\] a fantasy \[and is\] completely empty of any explanatory content. It is also evil.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-atkins/religion-is-a-fantasy-and-is-completely-empty-of-any-explanatory/) [P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) > [ “\[Religious belief is\] outmoded and ridiculous. \[Belief in gods was a\] worn out but once useful crutch in mankind's journey towards truth. We consider… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-atkins/religious-belief-is-outmoded-and-ridiculous-belief-in-gods-was-a-worn-2/) [P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) [Explore all 5 P.W. Atkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) ## 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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Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. 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