--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have known many gods. He who denies…" description: "\"I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I see not beyond death. ... Let me live while I live; let me k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/robert-e-howard-3742_arms_i-have-known-many-gods-he-who-denies-the_1451808.jpg" --- # I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as… ![“I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I see not beyond death. ... Let me live while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades…” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/robert-e-howard-3742_arms_i-have-known-many-gods-he-who-denies-the_1451808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/robert-e-howard-3742_arms_i-have-known-many-gods-he-who-denies-the_1451808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0da/robert-e-howard-3742_arms_i-have-known-many-gods-he-who-denies-the_1451808.jpg) > “I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I see not beyond death. ... Let me live while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. ... I know this: if life is an illusion, then I am no less than an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content.” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker embraces sensory experience and personal agency, rejecting both blind faith and absolute skepticism, finding meaning in living fully despite life's illusory nature. **In simple terms:** Live fully, trust senses, reject extremes. Key Takeaway Embrace life’s pleasures and actions. Themes existentialism sensualism heroism nihilism self‑determination Mood intense defiant reflective Type philosophical literary motivational When to use this quote - combat - feasting - adventure - personal reflection - philosophical debate Key Concepts illusion agency sensory fulfillment mortality personal myth Questions to Reflect On - What senses ground your reality? - How do you balance pleasure with purpose? A Different Perspective Blind faith can limit insight; extreme doubt can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blades/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Crimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimson/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Flames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flames/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Hot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Illusion Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion-real-1023398/) [Juice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juice/) [Know Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-life/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Let me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-me/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-illusion/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meat/) [Palate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palate/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Red meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-meat/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-know-this-if-life-is-illusion-then-i-am-no-less-an-illusion-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [The apparent ease of California life is an illusion, and those who believe the illusion real live here in only the most temporary way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/the-apparent-ease-of-california-life-is-an-illusion-and-those-who-2/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I seek not beyond death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-known-many-gods-he-who-denies-them-is-as-blind-as-he-who-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Believe in the hope of your Life Illusion because this is the only real thing that you posses!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/believe-in-the-hope-of-your-life-illusion-because-this-is-the-only/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat & stinging wine on my palate, the hot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/let-me-live-deep-while-i-live-let-me-know-the-rich-juices-of-red-meat/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Enlightenment says the world is nothing Nothing but a dream, everything's an illusion And nothing is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/enlightenment-says-the-world-is-nothing-nothing-but-a-dream/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [“they say that everything in the world is an illusion, that it’s not real. but how’s it an illusion? who’d say those real, material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-hongzhi/they-say-that-everything-in-the-world-is-an-illusion-that-it-s-not/) [li hongzhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-hongzhi/) > [It is only that my illusion is more real to me than reality. And so do we often build our world on an error,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-antin/it-is-only-that-my-illusion-is-more-real-to-me-than-reality-and-so-do/) [Mary Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-antin/) > [“It was the abyss of human illusion that was the real, the tideless deep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-was-the-abyss-of-human-illusion-that-was-the-real-the-tideless-deep/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [An illusion which is a real experience is worth having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/an-illusion-which-is-a-real-experience-is-worth-having/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“Survival is an ancient dream Life is nothing but an everlasting illusion Nothing is Real Don’t believe in illusion, Remember me, I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rixa-white/survival-is-an-ancient-dream-life-is-nothing-but-an-everlasting/) [Rixa White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rixa-white/) > [“Samantha reminds me of the difference between what is illusion and what is real. I am reminded whenever I forget that we choose our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-raven-rose/samantha-reminds-me-of-the-difference-between-what-is-illusion-and/) [H Raven Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-raven-rose/) > [Money itself isn't lost or made, it's simply transferred from one perception to another. This painting here. I bought it 10 years ago for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/money-itself-isn-t-lost-or-made-it-s-simply-transferred-from-one/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [“Time is an illusion, only the keepers of the illusion are real, and the reality they have spun, keeps us, until we set upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/time-is-an-illusion-only-the-keepers-of-the-illusion-are-real-and-the/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [Realize all this as illusion, realize that within the illusion is the Real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/realize-all-this-as-illusion-realize-that-within-the-illusion-is-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no life in the Abyss, save that which was incorporated in me," it tolled. "Nor was there light, nor motion, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-life-in-the-abyss-save-that-which-was-incorporated-in-me/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/that-s-the-way-with-civilized-men-when-they-can-t-explain-something/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, & am content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-live-i-burn-with-life-i-love-i-slay-am-content/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Coming, as I do, from mountain folk on one side and sea followers on the other, there are few old songs of the hills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/coming-as-i-do-from-mountain-folk-on-one-side-and-sea-followers-on/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“A true fanatic, his promptings were reasons enough for his actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/a-true-fanatic-his-promptings-were-reasons-enough-for-his-actions/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I see not beyond death. ... Let me live while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. ... I know this: if life is an illusion, then I am no less than an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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