---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not see how it is possible for an…"
description: "\"I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human being to conclude that the Song of Solomon is the work of God, and that the tragedy of Lear wa..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png"
---

#  I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human…

![“I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human being to conclude that the Song of Solomon is the work of God, and that the tragedy of Lear was the work of an uninspired man.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png)

> “I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human being to conclude that the Song of Solomon is the work of God, and that the tragedy of Lear was the work of an uninspired man.”

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Questioning divine authorship of literature reveals human creativity over supernatural claims.

**In simple terms:** Question divine claims.

Key Takeaway

Seek human explanations for artistic works.

Themes

skepticism literature religion

Mood

critical analytical

Type

lecture philosophical

When to use this quote

- education
- debate
- literary analysis
- secular studies

Key Concepts

philosophy history

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do we attribute works to divine sources?
- What does this say about human creativity?

A Different Perspective

Faith perspectives may find this dismissive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solomon/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/)

## Related quotes

> [It's hard to get burned out or uninspired, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/it-s-hard-to-get-burned-out-or-uninspired-man/)

[Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/)

> [“This title is a Hebrew word meaning “collector” or “assembler,” and while the Protestant Reformers used the term “preacher” to translate this title, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/this-title-is-a-hebrew-word-meaning-collector-or-assembler-and-while/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“I saw a banner hanging next to city hall in downtown Philadelphia that read, "Kill them all, and let God sort them out." A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-saw-a-banner-hanging-next-to-city-hall-in-downtown-philadelphia/)

[Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/)

> [God does not cause our misfortunes. Some are caused by bad luck, some are caused by bad people, and some are simply an inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/god-does-not-cause-our-misfortunes-some-are-caused-by-bad-luck-some/)

[Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/)

> [The tragedy of life and of the world is not that men do not know God; the tragedy is that, knowing Him, they still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-tragedy-of-life-and-of-the-world-is-not-that-men-do-not-know-god/)

[William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/)

> [ “Where \[God\] is, tragedy is only provisional and partial, and shipwreck and dissolution are not the absolutely final things.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/where-god-is-tragedy-is-only-provisional-and-partial-and-shipwreck/)

[William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/)

> [To know that the Bible is the literature of a barbarous people, to know that it is uninspired, to be certain that the supernatural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/to-know-that-the-bible-is-the-literature-of-a-barbarous-people-to/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [“Vin was coming to realize that her old goal in life - simply staying alive - was uninspired. There was so much more she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/vin-was-coming-to-realize-that-her-old-goal-in-life-simply-staying/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [I'm often wary of using the word 'inspiration' to introduce my work -- it sounds too much like a sun shower from the heavens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-tan/i-m-often-wary-of-using-the-word-inspiration-to-introduce-my-work-it/)

[Shaun Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-tan/)

> [Well, I just think through your career you go through different phases, and I just got sort of uninspired by the whole studio process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-palma/well-i-just-think-through-your-career-you-go-through-different-phases/)

[Brian De Palma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-palma/)

> [When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/when-i-went-to-school-they-asked-me-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [They told me I didn't understand the assignment, I told them they didn't understand life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/they-told-me-i-didn-t-understand-the-assignment-i-told-them-they-didn/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [If I'm ever feeling uninspired, all I have to do is go see Exodus or Arch Enemy, and think 'Oh yeah, that's what we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-king/if-i-m-ever-feeling-uninspired-all-i-have-to-do-is-go-see-exodus-or/)

[Kerry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-king/)

> [There certainly are situations where I feel not empowered or uninspired. Particularly when the person's agenda is to intimidate through abusing their position or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/there-certainly-are-situations-where-i-feel-not-empowered-or/)

[Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/)

## More by Robert Green Ingersoll

> [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

[Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

## More Atheism quotes

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/)

[Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/)

> [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/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [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/)

> [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/)

[Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/)

> [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/)

[Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/)

> [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/)

[Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/)

> [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

> [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

[Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human being to conclude that the Song of Solomon is the work of God, and that the tragedy of Lear was the work of an uninspired man.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Green Ingersoll"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-intelligent-human-being-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Atheism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-intelligent-human-being-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/819/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheism_i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-i_2796098.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human being to conclude that the Song of Solomon is the…” — Robert Green Ingersoll",
                "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": "Robert Green Ingersoll",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I do not see how it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-intelligent-human-being-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-an-intelligent-human-being-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
