--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once a person believes - really believes…" description: "\"“Once a person believes - really believes - that certain ideas can lead to eternal happiness, or to its antithesis, he cannot tolerate the possibility ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/sam-harris-457_doubt_once-a-person-believes-really-believes-t_1989687.jpg" --- # Once a person believes - really believes - that certain… ![“Once a person believes - really believes - that certain ideas can lead to eternal happiness, or to its antithesis, he cannot tolerate the possibility that the people he loves might be led astray by the blandishments of unbelievers. Certainty about the next life is simply incompatible with…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/sam-harris-457_doubt_once-a-person-believes-really-believes-t_1989687.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/sam-harris-457_doubt_once-a-person-believes-really-believes-t_1989687.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/sam-harris-457_doubt_once-a-person-believes-really-believes-t_1989687.jpg) > ““Once a person believes - really believes - that certain ideas can lead to eternal happiness, or to its antithesis, he cannot tolerate the possibility that the people he loves might be led astray by the blandishments of unbelievers. Certainty about the next life is simply incompatible with tolerance in this one.”” [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding absolute certainty about an afterlife creates intolerance toward differing beliefs, especially concerning loved ones. **In simple terms:** Absolute belief blocks tolerance. Key Takeaway Question beliefs to foster tolerance. Themes tolerance belief faith intolerance love Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - family discussions - interfaith dialogue - personal reflection - education - policy making Key Concepts existentialism psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal convictions with respect for others? - Can certainty ever be fully compatible with tolerance? A Different Perspective Tolerance can coexist with strong convictions if openness is practiced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Eternal happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-happiness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Next life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Our situation is this: most of the people in this world believe that the Creator of the universe has written a book. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/our-situation-is-this-most-of-the-people-in-this-world-believe-that/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Incompatible religious doctrines have balkanized our world into separate moral communities, and these divisions have become a continuous source of bloodshed. 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Believe that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-is-time-we-realize-that-belief-is-not-a-private-matter-as-a-man/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“What one believes happens after death dictates much of what one believes about life, and this is why faith-based religion, in presuming to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/what-one-believes-happens-after-death-dictates-much-of-what-one/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [It is only of life on Earth, however, that one can speak with any certainty. It seems to me that all life on Earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/it-is-only-of-life-on-earth-however-that-one-can-speak-with-any/) [Clifford D. 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Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/) [Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/) ## More by Sam Harris > [“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to-loosely-interpret-or-simply/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [There is no question but that nominally religious scientists like Francis Collins and Kenneth R. Miller are doing lasting harm to our discourse by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/there-is-no-question-but-that-nominally-religious-scientists-like/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [We have Christians against Muslims against Jews, and no matter how liberal your theology, merely identifying yourself as a Christian or a Jew lends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-have-christians-against-muslims-against-jews-and-no-matter-how/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Your principal concern appears to be that the Creator of the universe will take offense at something people do while naked. This prudery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/your-principal-concern-appears-to-be-that-the-creator-of-the-universe/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“As manuals for contemplative understanding, the Bible and the Koran are worse than useless. 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The second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/the-second-commandment-is-thou-shall-not-construct-any-graven-images/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“But the reality of consciousness appears irreducible. 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And yet, it is obvious that an utter revolution in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/what-could-possibly-cause-billions-of-human-beings-to-reconsider/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) [Explore all 543 Sam Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More Believes quotes > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If she gives you her heart she believes you are all she needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-jush/if-she-gives-you-her-heart-she-believes-you-are-all-she-needs/) [El Jush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-jush/) > [“He is a missionary and believes in God, intensely I mean, but it takes all kinds to make a world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/he-is-a-missionary-and-believes-in-god-intensely-i-mean-but-it-takes/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [I see myself as a man who is searching for meaning in life. 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