--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I might respect you as a brilliant…" description: "\"I might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner, musician or juggler. But respect your BELIEFS? Only if they're supported by evidence.\" — Richard ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg" --- # I might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner… ![“I might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner, musician or juggler. But respect your BELIEFS? Only if they're supported by evidence.” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg) > “I might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner, musician or juggler. But respect your BELIEFS? Only if they're supported by evidence.” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect should be earned through evidence, not just talent or charisma. **In simple terms:** Respect requires evidence. Key Takeaway Demand proof for beliefs. Themes critical thinking skepticism evidence belief intellect Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - debates - scientific discussions - policy making - education - media analysis Key Concepts empiricism rationalism epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate evidence for deeply held beliefs? - What standards of proof are appropriate for different claims? A Different Perspective Evidence can be hard to obtain or interpret, leading to uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Runners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runners/) ## Related quotes > [Scientific beliefs are supported by evidence, and they get results. Myths and faiths are not and do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/scientific-beliefs-are-supported-by-evidence-and-they-get-results/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Science shares with religion the claim that it answers deep questions about origins, the nature of life, and the cosmos. But there the resemblance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/science-shares-with-religion-the-claim-that-it-answers-deep-questions/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Any faith that must be supported by the evidence of the senses is not real faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-faith-that-must-be-supported-by-the-evidence-of-the-senses-is-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Respecting your partner means recognising and valuing their independence. Respect their beliefs, their values, their life goals, their job, their hobbies, their friends and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-witton/respecting-your-partner-means-recognising-and-valuing-their/) Hannah Witton > [So how do we solve this ancient problem? How can we not just tolerate someone who believes differently than we do, but actually respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shore-1st-baron-teignmouth/so-how-do-we-solve-this-ancient-problem-how-can-we-not-just-tolerate/) John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth > [“I wouldn't deserve you if I didn't respect your beliefs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/i-wouldn-t-deserve-you-if-i-didn-t-respect-your-beliefs/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [ What \[he\] is apparently objecting to is that not everyone takes his beliefs seriously. Indeed, some don't seem to respect his beliefs at all,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-shallit/what-he-is-apparently-objecting-to-is-that-not-everyone-takes-his/) Jeffrey Shallit > [“Before you ask others to respect your beliefs, you have to respect their beliefs. Do you respect others beliefs when you recite and blast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wafa-sultan/before-you-ask-others-to-respect-your-beliefs-you-have-to-respect/) [Wafa Sultan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wafa-sultan/) > [“I respect your beliefs Andrew, and I'm glad they make you happy. But I'm not up here to be lectured at or spoken down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/i-respect-your-beliefs-andrew-and-i-m-glad-they-make-you-happy-but-i/) [Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/) > [Americans will respect your beliefs if you just keep them private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/americans-will-respect-your-beliefs-if-you-just-keep-them-private-2/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [Americans will respect your beliefs if you just keep them private. Keep it private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly-2/americans-will-respect-your-beliefs-if-you-just-keep-them-private/) Bill O Reilly > [“The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-world-in-which-we-live-is-filled-with-diversity-we-can-and-should/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [So many of the problems we have today are because people don't respect the beliefs of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/so-many-of-the-problems-we-have-today-are-because-people-don-t/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. There is no middle ground. We must stand up for truth, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-are-cast-as-combatants-in-the-war-between-truth-and-error-there-is/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [When the stakes are this high- when calling God by the right name can make the difference between eternal happiness and eternal suffering, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/when-the-stakes-are-this-high-when-calling-god-by-the-right-name-can/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More by Richard Dawkins > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The fundamentalist Kurt Wise proclaims that all the evidence in the universe would not change his mind. The true scientist, however passionately he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-fundamentalist-kurt-wise-proclaims-that-all-the-evidence-in-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/religions-do-make-claims-about-the-universe-the-same-kinds-of-claims/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/much-of-the-bible-is-not-systematically-evil-but-just-plain-weird-as/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [What's going to happen when I die? I may be buried, or I may be cremated, I may give my body to science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-s-going-to-happen-when-i-die-i-may-be-buried-or-i-may-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have seen that living things are too improbable and too beautifully 'designed' to have come into existence by chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-have-seen-that-living-things-are-too-improbable-and-too/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We will not go quietly away. If in the future that requires violence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-will-not-go-quietly-away-if-in-the-future-that-requires-violence/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Explore all 1,239 Richard Dawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## 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 might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner, musician or juggler. But respect your BELIEFS? Only if they're supported by evidence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Dawkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intellect-runner-musician-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intellect-runner-musician-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/629/richard-dawkins-115_belief_i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intel_828997.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I might respect you as a brilliant intellect, runner, musician or juggler. But respect your BELIEFS? Only if…” — Richard Dawkins", "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": "Richard Dawkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I might respect you as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intellect-runner-musician-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-might-respect-you-as-a-brilliant-intellect-runner-musician-or/#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 } } ] } ```