--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have lived long enough to know what I…" description: "\"I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one time believe--that no society can be upheld in happiness and honor without the sentiment of reli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg" --- # I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one… ![“I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one time believe--that no society can be upheld in happiness and honor without the sentiment of religion.” quote by Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg) > “I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one time believe--that no society can be upheld in happiness and honor without the sentiment of religion.” [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society needs a shared moral framework, often provided by religion, to sustain happiness and honor. **In simple terms:** Religion gives society moral cohesion. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of shared values in community wellbeing. Themes morality society religion Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public policy - community building - education - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts social cohesion ethical foundations Questions to Reflect On - How can societies maintain honor without religious sentiment? - What alternative moral frameworks can support happiness? A Different Perspective Secular societies can also foster cohesion through shared humanistic values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-society-1617454/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Sentiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-sentiment-5974517/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [One time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-time/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sentiment Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiment-religion-3187722/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Upheld Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upheld-happiness-5974516/) ## Related quotes > [Art is based on a strong sentiment of religion,--on a profound and mighty earnestness; hence it is so prone to co-operate with religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/art-is-based-on-a-strong-sentiment-of-religion-on-a-profound-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [When I was little, my parents belonged to a cult, a big Buddhist sect called Soka Gakkai. I didn't have any particular sentiment for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/when-i-was-little-my-parents-belonged-to-a-cult-a-big-buddhist-sect/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiment in religion appear to be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/of-all-the-animosities-which-have-existed-among-mankind-those-which-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“I don't believe society has ever grown more tolerant. It just changes targets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-don-t-believe-society-has-ever-grown-more-tolerant-it-just-changes/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I don’t believe that in our society that we should have guns,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-don-t-believe-that-in-our-society-that-we-should-have-guns/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top, you’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-problem-is-if-you-really-believe-in-a-society-where-those-who/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [People may believe that there can be a society where dissent is not permitted, but which is nonetheless not a fear society because everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/people-may-believe-that-there-can-be-a-society-where-dissent-is-not/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [“It was hard to believe that in a society of computer chips, banana chips, and anti-lock brakes, of sitcoms, Home Shopping Clubs, and pay-per-view,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lee/it-was-hard-to-believe-that-in-a-society-of-computer-chips-banana/) [Edward Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lee/) > [I believe in a society where all people do well. Not just a handful of billionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-believe-in-a-society-where-all-people-do-well-not-just-a-handful-of/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [I really believe our society has this propensity to punish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rosenberg/i-really-believe-our-society-has-this-propensity-to-punish/) [Susan Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rosenberg/) > [I don't believe society understands what happens when everything is available, knowable and recorded by everyone all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/i-don-t-believe-society-understands-what-happens-when-everything-is/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [I believe that our society is merely a reflection of what is going on inside each and every one of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seal/i-believe-that-our-society-is-merely-a-reflection-of-what-is-going-on/) [Seal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seal/) > [I believe society and football are all the time together, and will come to a new harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-carvalhal/i-believe-society-and-football-are-all-the-time-together-and-will/) [Carlos Carvalhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-carvalhal/) > [I believe that society needs to be more open and accepting of things that are seen as 'different.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-mua/i-believe-that-society-needs-to-be-more-open-and-accepting-of-things/) [Manny MUA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-mua/) > [It's not just that individuals have lost faith in the integrity of their leaders, it's that they no longer believe society's most powerful institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/it-s-not-just-that-individuals-have-lost-faith-in-the-integrity-of/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) ## More by Pierre-Simon Laplace > [It is interesting thus to follow the intellectual truths of analysis in the phenomena of nature. This correspondence, of which the system of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/it-is-interesting-thus-to-follow-the-intellectual-truths-of-analysis/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [“L'homme ne poursuit que des chimères. ( Man follows only phantoms .) { His true last words, according to Augustus De Morgan .}”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/l-homme-ne-poursuit-que-des-chim-res-man-follows-only-phantoms-his/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [Such is the advantage of a well constructed language that its simplified notation often becomes the source of profound theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/such-is-the-advantage-of-a-well-constructed-language-that-its/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [Napoleon: You have written this huge book on the system of the world without once mentioning the author of the universe. Laplace: Sire, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/napoleon-you-have-written-this-huge-book-on-the-system-of-the-world/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [The weight of evidence for an extraordinary claim must be proportioned to its strangeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/the-weight-of-evidence-for-an-extraordinary-claim-must-be/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [“...by shortening the labours doubled the life of the astronomer. { On the benefit of John Napier 's logarithms .}”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/by-shortening-the-labours-doubled-the-life-of-the-astronomer-on-the/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [To Napoleon on why his works on celestial mechanics make no mention of God: Your Highness, I have no need of this hypothesis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/to-napoleon-on-why-his-works-on-celestial-mechanics-make-no-mention/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [We are so far from knowing all the forces of nature and their various modes of action that it would be unworthy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/we-are-so-far-from-knowing-all-the-forces-of-nature-and-their-various/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [If an event can be produced by a number n of different causes, the probabilities of the existence of these causes, given the event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/if-an-event-can-be-produced-by-a-number-n-of-different-causes-the/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [The word 'chance' then expresses only our ignorance of the causes of the phenomena that we observe to occur and to succeed one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/the-word-chance-then-expresses-only-our-ignorance-of-the-causes-of/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [The simplicity of the law by which the celestial bodies move, and the relations of their masses and distances, permit analysis to follow their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/the-simplicity-of-the-law-by-which-the-celestial-bodies-move-and-the/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [His last words, according to De Morgan: Man follows only phantoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/his-last-words-according-to-de-morgan-man-follows-only-phantoms/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [The most important questions of life are indeed, for the most part, really only problems of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/the-most-important-questions-of-life-are-indeed-for-the-most-part/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [Man follows only phantoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/man-follows-only-phantoms/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [The simplicity of nature is not to be measured by that of our conceptions. Infinitely varied in its effects, nature is simple only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/the-simplicity-of-nature-is-not-to-be-measured-by-that-of-our/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) [Explore all 39 Pierre-Simon Laplace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one time believe--that no society can be upheld in happiness and honor without the sentiment of religion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre-Simon Laplace" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i-did-not-at-one-time-believe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i-did-not-at-one-time-believe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/pierre-simon-laplace-15849_believe_i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i_3206663.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have lived long enough to know what I did not at one time believe--that no society can be upheld in…” — Pierre-Simon Laplace", "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": "Pierre-Simon Laplace", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have lived long enough to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i-did-not-at-one-time-believe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/i-have-lived-long-enough-to-know-what-i-did-not-at-one-time-believe/#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 } } ] } ```