--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith…" description: "\"Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith makes its own forms.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png" --- # Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith makes its own… ![“Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith makes its own forms.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png) > “Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith makes its own forms.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith acts as a creator, shaping both the believer and its expressions, rather than being a passive recipient. **In simple terms:** Faith creates itself and its forms. Key Takeaway Let faith inspire action and creation. Themes faith self-creation agency spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - artistic creation - leadership - spiritual practice Key Concepts Existentialism creative power inner drive Questions to Reflect On - How does your faith shape your actions? - What forms does your faith take? A Different Perspective Blind faith without reflection can be misguided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-makes-429704/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Forms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Makes Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-faith-1328923/) [Makes Forms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-forms-5025179/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [It makes Faith think of a hammock in their yard, a web of rope that she thought would unravel the first time she leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-makes-faith-think-of-a-hammock-in-their-yard-a-web-of-rope-that/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [It is not reason which makes faith hard, but life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ingelow/it-is-not-reason-which-makes-faith-hard-but-life/) [Jean Ingelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ingelow/) > [“Doubt makes faith true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnston/doubt-makes-faith-true/) [Bill Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnston/) > [Sometimes dodging the curve balls that life brings sounds better than taking the next move. Everything happens for a reason; it makes us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-garcia/sometimes-dodging-the-curve-balls-that-life-brings-sounds-better-than/) [Olga Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-garcia/) > [Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction ... nor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/neither-let-us-be-slandered-from-our-duty-by-false-accusations-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“What makes faith valid is not its subjective strength, but the trustworthiness of its object.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-blight/what-makes-faith-valid-is-not-its-subjective-strength-but-the/) [Wendy Blight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-blight/) > [Fear that makes faith may break faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/fear-that-makes-faith-may-break-faith/) [Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/) > [Grace is the atmosphere created by love that makes faith the only reasonable response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/grace-is-the-atmosphere-created-by-love-that-makes-faith-the-only/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I have a production company called Home Theater Films which makes faith-based films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-have-a-production-company-called-home-theater-films-which-makes/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-have-faith-that-right-makes-might-and-in-that-faith-let-us-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Death is the mother of forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/death-is-the-mother-of-forms/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [“And that's the other thing he wouldn't want to live without. Faith. It makes anything possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-phillips/and-that-s-the-other-thing-he-wouldn-t-want-to-live-without-faith-it/) [Suzanne Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-phillips/) > [Faith makes all things possible. Love makes them easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/faith-makes-all-things-possible-love-makes-them-easy/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [“Faith makes things work out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/faith-makes-things-work-out/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/faith-is-what-makes-life-bearable-with-all-its-tragedies-and/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Faith quotes > [“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/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. 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/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) [Matt Morris (1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-morris-1/) > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith makes its own forms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-makes-its-own-forms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-makes-its-own-forms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_faith_faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-m_621142.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Faith makes us, and not we it; and faith makes its own forms.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Faith makes us, and not we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-makes-its-own-forms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/faith-makes-us-and-not-we-it-and-faith-makes-its-own-forms/#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 } } ] } ```