Belief in god Quote by Stephanie Kallos
““Look now. Look at what you value, what you hold dear. Objects, first. And not necessarily because of their innate value (although that might figure into it), but because they are endowed - by your mind and imagination, by your memories - with what is know as "sentimental value." Sentiment has been defined as ascribing a value to something above and beyond what its value is to God. This presumes a belief in God, and furthermore a belief in a kind of God that passes judgment on the inexplicable fondness of the human heart; there is an expression, isn't there: "the object of my affections." But perhaps you do not believe in that kid of God, or any other, for that matter. Look then at the faces and bodies of people you love. The explicit beauty that comes not from smoothness of skin or neutrality of expression, but from the web of experience that has left its mark. Each face, each body is its own lving fossilized record. A record of cats, combatants, difficult births; of accidents, cruelties, blessings. Reminders of folly, greed, indiscretion, impatience. A moment of time, of memory, preserved, internalized, and enshrined within and upon the body. You need not be told that these records are what render your beloved beautiful. If God exists, He is there, in the small, cast-off pieces, rough and random and no two alike.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Sentimental Value, Unknown Source
The passage reflects on how objects and loved ones gain value through personal memories and emotions, not intrinsic worth, and how this creates a unique, sacred beauty.
In simple terms: Objects and people become precious because of our memories and feelings.
Recognize and cherish the personal meaning behind what you love.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- gift giving
- relationship building
- grief processing
- reflection on loss
- celebrating love
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What memories give you the most value?
- How does personal history shape your perception of beauty?
If you reject belief in a deity, the concept of divine judgment on sentiment may feel irrelevant.