--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...either the gods are there whether you…" description: "\"“...either the gods are there whether you believe or not, or exist only as a function of the belief, so either way you might as well ignore the whole b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/terry-pratchett-19_business_either-the-gods-are-there-whether-you-be_1135733.jpg" --- # ...either the gods are there whether you believe or not… ![“...either the gods are there whether you believe or not, or exist only as a function of the belief, so either way you might as well ignore the whole business...” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/terry-pratchett-19_business_either-the-gods-are-there-whether-you-be_1135733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/terry-pratchett-19_business_either-the-gods-are-there-whether-you-be_1135733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/terry-pratchett-19_business_either-the-gods-are-there-whether-you-be_1135733.jpg) > ““...either the gods are there whether you believe or not, or exist only as a function of the belief, so either way you might as well ignore the whole business...”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divinity may be independent of belief or exist only through belief; either way, it can be ignored. **In simple terms:** Gods might be real or just belief‑based; you can ignore them. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about faith. Themes faith belief skepticism Mood skeptical reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal belief - religious practice - philosophical debate - cultural rituals Key Concepts Existentialism subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - What role does belief play in shaping reality? - Can ignoring belief be harmful? A Different Perspective Overlooks the influence of belief on behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) ## Related quotes > [“Anyway, either the gods are there whether you believe or not, or exist only as a function of the belief, so either way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/anyway-either-the-gods-are-there-whether-you-believe-or-not-or-exist/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Wizards don't believe in gods in the same way that most people don't find it necessary to believe in, say, tables. They know they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/wizards-don-t-believe-in-gods-in-the-same-way-that-most-people-don-t/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/of-the-gods-we-believe-and-of-men-we-know-that-by-a-necessary-law-of/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [I believe in the gods; or rather I believe that I believe in the gods. 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I believe in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-think-we-can-be-our-own-gods-i-believe-in-myself/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“I believe that we exist to fully participate in the creation of our own lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/i-believe-that-we-exist-to-fully-participate-in-the-creation-of-our/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [In the world that Joe Biden and I believe can and should exist, people should only have to work one job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/in-the-world-that-joe-biden-and-i-believe-can-and-should-exist-people/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [“Did you have friend?" 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I want to believe that I exist to be there for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-believe-there-is-somebody-out-there-just-for-me-i-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Why would you give up your life from a world that doesn't even believe you exist?' A cough wracks his body, but his grip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swanson/why-would-you-give-up-your-life-from-a-world-that-doesn-t-even/) [Kara Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swanson/) > [“Did you have friend?" "I've read about them, but I don't believe they exist." "Your cynicism is amazing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-meadows/did-you-have-friend-i-ve-read-about-them-but-i-don-t-believe-they/) [Jodi Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-meadows/) > [I believe that I exist for the people. I'm just here to try to make a difference, and hopefully, the people listen and trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/i-believe-that-i-exist-for-the-people-i-m-just-here-to-try-to-make-a/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. 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'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## 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. 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