--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who believe in something for which…" description: "\"People who believe in something for which there is not a shred of evidence act on that belief and, above all, impose their beliefs on others, they make..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg" --- # People who believe in something for which there is not a… ![“People who believe in something for which there is not a shred of evidence act on that belief and, above all, impose their beliefs on others, they make me cross, and they make me especially cross when they impose their beliefs on defenceless children.” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg) > “People who believe in something for which there is not a shred of evidence act on that belief and, above all, impose their beliefs on others, they make me cross, and they make me especially cross when they impose their beliefs on defenceless children.” [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. People who hold unfounded beliefs often impose them on others, especially vulnerable children, causing harm. **In simple terms:** Blind belief can be harmful when forced on others. Key Takeaway Encourage evidence‑based thinking. Themes belief imposition vulnerability science ethics Mood concerned analytical serious Type ethical philosophical social When to use this quote - education - parenting - policy making - public discourse Key Concepts critical thinking skepticism social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you address harmful beliefs? - What protects children from ideological pressure? A Different Perspective Not all belief systems are equally harmful; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [It's very hard to impose your beliefs or a specific message about any given movie. I think that audiences always extract what they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/it-s-very-hard-to-impose-your-beliefs-or-a-specific-message-about-any/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [“There is no sanctuary against those who impose their beliefs on others through laws, not one single strip of dry land on this Earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-w-southwick/there-is-no-sanctuary-against-those-who-impose-their-beliefs-on/) [S.W. Southwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-w-southwick/) > [I can't - and won't - impose my beliefs on others, either verbally or otherwise. I'm not going to judge people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/i-can-t-and-won-t-impose-my-beliefs-on-others-either-verbally-or/) [Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/) > [We intend freedom and justice to conquer. Yes, we do have a creed and we wish others to share it. But it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-intend-freedom-and-justice-to-conquer-yes-we-do-have-a-creed-and/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [We need to identify our core beliefs that often make us feel trapped in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/we-need-to-identify-our-core-beliefs-that-often-make-us-feel-trapped/) Senoraroy > [Beliefs can be roadways or roadblocks. A variety of beliefs can make life interesting and colorful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/beliefs-can-be-roadways-or-roadblocks-a-variety-of-beliefs-can-make/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [“You don’t win somebody over by telling them everything they believe is wrong. All that does is solidify their beliefs and make them hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/you-don-t-win-somebody-over-by-telling-them-everything-they-believe/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [The dust of exploded beliefs may make a fine sunset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-madan/the-dust-of-exploded-beliefs-may-make-a-fine-sunset/) [Geoffrey Madan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-madan/) > [Common sense dictates that we evaluate our beliefs on the basis of how they affect us. If they make us more loving, creative, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-marx-hubbard/common-sense-dictates-that-we-evaluate-our-beliefs-on-the-basis-of/) [Barbara Marx Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-marx-hubbard/) > [“There may be certain areas of your life where it’s easy to behave according to your values, and there may be other areas where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/there-may-be-certain-areas-of-your-life-where-it-s-easy-to-behave/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/when-it-comes-to-controlling-human-beings-there-is-no-better/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [“The more you're challenged, the more rigidly you assert your beliefs. You have nothing to lose because without your beliefs you're nothing anyway: they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/the-more-you-re-challenged-the-more-rigidly-you-assert-your-beliefs/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [I think our brains does have a tendency to be true to its own ideas and statements. Everything we do and everything we think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-b-newberg/i-think-our-brains-does-have-a-tendency-to-be-true-to-its-own-ideas/) [Andrew B. Newberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-b-newberg/) > [“Don't ever give up your beliefs to make another happy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/don-t-ever-give-up-your-beliefs-to-make-another-happy/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“When your turn comes to jump into the Nothing, you too will be a nameless servant of power, with no will of your own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/when-your-turn-comes-to-jump-into-the-nothing-you-too-will-be-a/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) ## 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": "People who believe in something for which there is not a shred of evidence act on that belief and, above all, impose their beliefs on others, they make me cross, and they make me especially cross when they impose their beliefs on defenceless children.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Dawkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-believe-in-something-for-which-there-is-not-a-shred-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-believe-in-something-for-which-there-is-not-a-shred-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/richard-dawkins-115_belief_people-who-believe-in-something-for-whic_2033139.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People who believe in something for which there is not a shred of evidence act on that belief and, above…” — 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": "People who believe in something for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-believe-in-something-for-which-there-is-not-a-shred-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-believe-in-something-for-which-there-is-not-a-shred-of/#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 } } ] } ```