--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In all the years when I did not know what…" description: "\"In all the years when I did not know what to believe in and therefore preferred to leave all beliefs alone, whenever I came to a place where living wat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/sigrid-undset-13292_belief_in-all-the-years-when-i-did-not-know-wha_1706470.jpg" --- # In all the years when I did not know what to believe in… ![“In all the years when I did not know what to believe in and therefore preferred to leave all beliefs alone, whenever I came to a place where living water welled up, blessedly cold and sweet and pure, from the earth's dark bosom, I felt that after all it must be wrong not to believe in anything.” quote by Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/sigrid-undset-13292_belief_in-all-the-years-when-i-did-not-know-wha_1706470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/sigrid-undset-13292_belief_in-all-the-years-when-i-did-not-know-wha_1706470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/sigrid-undset-13292_belief_in-all-the-years-when-i-did-not-know-wha_1706470.jpg) > “In all the years when I did not know what to believe in and therefore preferred to leave all beliefs alone, whenever I came to a place where living water welled up, blessedly cold and sweet and pure, from the earth's dark bosom, I felt that after all it must be wrong not to believe in anything.” [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When encountering pure, life‑giving water, she feels compelled to believe, suggesting that natural beauty can inspire faith despite prior doubt. **In simple terms:** Seeing pure water rekindles belief. Key Takeaway Seek truth in nature’s simplicity. Themes spirituality nature faith Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - hiking - meditation retreats - art appreciation - personal crises Key Concepts existentialism aesthetic experience inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - What natural moments have shifted your beliefs? - Can beauty replace doctrine? A Different Perspective Nature alone may not resolve deep skepticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Living Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-water/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [They were so strong in their beliefs that there came a time when it hardly mattered what exactly those beliefs were; they all fused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/they-were-so-strong-in-their-beliefs-that-there-came-a-time-when-it/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [ Pure earth does not petrify, because the predominance of dryness over \[i.e. in\] the earth endows it not with coherence but rather with crumbliness.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avicenna/pure-earth-does-not-petrify-because-the-predominance-of-dryness-over/) [Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avicenna/) > [I've always felt there was something wrong with Wells Fargo's culture, for a very, very long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-eisman/i-ve-always-felt-there-was-something-wrong-with-wells-fargo-s-culture/) [Steve Eisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-eisman/) > [“I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he said, "and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-was-thinking-about-the-first-time-i-ever-saw-you-he-said-and-how/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Chills crept up my back. It may seem like nothing to a normal person, but I wasn’t normal. I was a spy. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-bode/chills-crept-up-my-back-it-may-seem-like-nothing-to-a-normal-person/) [Maya Bode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-bode/) > [Without Mona, Hanna felt like a great outfit without matching accessories, a screw-driver that was all orange juice and no vodka, and an iPod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/without-mona-hanna-felt-like-a-great-outfit-without-matching/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [I knew I didn't want to come out in the 'New Yorker'; it just felt wrong. 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I would go into my dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/from-the-start-as-early-as-i-felt-i-was-in-the-wrong-sex-i-really-did/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [It felt wrong to be so proud of something that I had absolutely nothing to do with, but I couldn't help myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-felt-wrong-to-be-so-proud-of-something-that-i-had-absolutely/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I wasn't naive, but at the end of my Miss America year, when two different executives attacked me during what I thought were informational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-carlson/i-wasn-t-naive-but-at-the-end-of-my-miss-america-year-when-two/) [Gretchen Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-carlson/) > [“If there was a such thing as arm porn, I was watching my very own channel. It felt wrong to look, but God, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/if-there-was-a-such-thing-as-arm-porn-i-was-watching-my-very-own/) [Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/) > [But because they didn't see each other very often, their relationship had more ups and downs than either of them had experienced before. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/but-because-they-didn-t-see-each-other-very-often-their-relationship/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“A man was asleep in my bed for the first time ever, and it felt anything but wrong. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/a-man-was-asleep-in-my-bed-for-the-first-time-ever-and-it-felt/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [It felt wrong for me to stay totally connected to that very strict way of approaching the heritage - what it can be, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raf-simons/it-felt-wrong-for-me-to-stay-totally-connected-to-that-very-strict/) [Raf Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raf-simons/) > [Being with you never felt wrong. It's the one thing I did right. You're the one thing I did right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-with-you-never-felt-wrong-it-s-the-one-thing-i-did-right-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sigrid Undset > [And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/and-when-we-give-each-other-christmas-gifts-in-his-name-let-us/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [Easy for them to keep their youth who will never learn a lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/easy-for-them-to-keep-their-youth-who-will-never-learn-a-lesson/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [All things that a man owns hold him far more than he holds them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/all-things-that-a-man-owns-hold-him-far-more-than-he-holds-them/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [I am not so foolish as to murmur, if now, since I have drunk up my wine and beer, I have to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/i-am-not-so-foolish-as-to-murmur-if-now-since-i-have-drunk-up-my-wine/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [“Overcome and sobbing, the young woman sank down before the cross at the side of the road, where thousands of pilgrims had lain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/overcome-and-sobbing-the-young-woman-sank-down-before-the-cross-at/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [It’s a good thing when you don’t dare do something if you don’t think it’s right. But it’s not good when you think something’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/it-s-a-good-thing-when-you-don-t-dare-do-something-if-you-don-t-think/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [Tis well when we dare not do a thing we think is not good and fair; but not so well when we think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/tis-well-when-we-dare-not-do-a-thing-we-think-is-not-good-and-fair/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [I rolled myself up into a tight ball of resistance and it was thus that I went through my school years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/i-rolled-myself-up-into-a-tight-ball-of-resistance-and-it-was-thus/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [“The other day I came across a book which illustrates in a rather droll way the extent to which Northern European women have taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/the-other-day-i-came-across-a-book-which-illustrates-in-a-rather/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [No doing without some ruing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/no-doing-without-some-ruing/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [“No doubt the movement which rightly or wrongly we have learnt to call the emancipation of women is in the first place a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/no-doubt-the-movement-which-rightly-or-wrongly-we-have-learnt-to-call/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [“Are you so arrogant that you think yourself capable of sinning so badly that God’s mercy is not great enough? . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/are-you-so-arrogant-that-you-think-yourself-capable-of-sinning-so/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [“Dragons and all other creatures that serve the Devil only seem big as long as we harbor fear within ourselves. But if a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/dragons-and-all-other-creatures-that-serve-the-devil-only-seem-big-as/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [Many a man is given what is intended for another, but no man is given another's fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/many-a-man-is-given-what-is-intended-for-another-but-no-man-is-given/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) > [“As your pierced hands were stretched out on the cross, O precious Lord of Heaven. No matter how far a soul might stray from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/as-your-pierced-hands-were-stretched-out-on-the-cross-o-precious-lord/) [Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) [Explore all 51 Sigrid Undset quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/) ## 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. 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