--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is very similar to the suggestion…" description: "\"“This is very similar to the suggestion put forward by the Quirmian philosopher Ventre, who said, \"Possibly the gods exist, and possibly they do not. S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/terry-pratchett-19_from-a-book_this-is-very-similar-to-the-suggestion-p_492156.jpg" --- # This is very similar to the suggestion put forward by the… ![“This is very similar to the suggestion put forward by the Quirmian philosopher Ventre, who said, "Possibly the gods exist, and possibly they do not. So why not believe in them in any case? If it's all true you'll go to a lovely place when you die, and if it isn't then you've lost nothing, right?"…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/terry-pratchett-19_from-a-book_this-is-very-similar-to-the-suggestion-p_492156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/terry-pratchett-19_from-a-book_this-is-very-similar-to-the-suggestion-p_492156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/terry-pratchett-19_from-a-book_this-is-very-similar-to-the-suggestion-p_492156.jpg) > ““This is very similar to the suggestion put forward by the Quirmian philosopher Ventre, who said, "Possibly the gods exist, and possibly they do not. So why not believe in them in any case? If it's all true you'll go to a lovely place when you die, and if it isn't then you've lost nothing, right?" When he died he woke up in a circle of gods holding nasty-looking sticks and one of them said, "We're going to show you what we think of Mr Clever Dick in these parts...”” [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. Belief in gods is harmless; if true, reward awaits, if false, nothing is lost. **In simple terms:** Believing in gods costs nothing either way. Key Takeaway Consider open‑minded belief without fear. Themes philosophy religion skepticism Mood thoughtful curious Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal reflection - spiritual exploration - ethical decision making Key Concepts existential risk faith agnosticism Questions to Reflect On - What would you gain or lose by believing? - Is it better to remain agnostic? A Different Perspective Some argue belief without evidence is irrational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circle Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle-gods-4208799/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Philosopher Ventre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher-ventre-4208800/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Possibly Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibly-believe-3691005/) [Possibly Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibly-gods-4208798/) ## Related quotes > [“Could he possibly believe a purple tunic over a butler- yellow shirt and scarlet pants became him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilari-bell/could-he-possibly-believe-a-purple-tunic-over-a-butler-yellow-shirt/) [Hilari Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilari-bell/) > [“I believe future generations will ask themselves how a technologically advanced species like ours could possibly believe most of what our modern religions teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-believe-future-generations-will-ask-themselves-how-a/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I dont doubt that Bush probably believes most of his own rhetoric (even he couldnt possibly believe it all) and somewhere in the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-carlysle/i-dont-doubt-that-bush-probably-believes-most-of-his-own-rhetoric/) [Jules Carlysle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-carlysle/) > [God wants us so badly that he has made the condition as simple as he possibly could: Only believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/god-wants-us-so-badly-that-he-has-made-the-condition-as-simple-as-he/) [Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/) > [“A young man of godlilke proportions\* was standing in the doorway. \* The better class of gods, anyway. Not the ones with the tentacles, obviously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-young-man-of-godlilke-proportions-was-standing-in-the-doorway-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“\*The disc's greatest lovers were undoubtedly Mellius and Gretelina, whose pure, passionate and soul-searing affair would have scorched the pages of History if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-disc-s-greatest-lovers-were-undoubtedly-mellius-and-gretelina/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Rincewind shivered. He was not, of course, an atheist; on the Disc the gods dealt severely with atheists. On the few occasions when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/rincewind-shivered-he-was-not-of-course-an-atheist-on-the-disc-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Old gods do new jobs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/old-gods-do-new-jobs/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Around the Godde there forms a Shelle of prayers and Ceremonies and Buildings and Priestes and Authority, until at Last the Godde Dies. Ande…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/around-the-godde-there-forms-a-shelle-of-prayers-and-ceremonies-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Everyone has gods. You just don't think they're gods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/everyone-has-gods-you-just-don-t-think-they-re-gods/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“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/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) ## 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. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. '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 Gods quotes > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [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/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) > [How do you explain a person like Asha Bhosle? A star or a super star or just someone from the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/how-do-you-explain-a-person-like-asha-bhosle-a-star-or-a-super-star/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Aeneas' mother is a star?" "No; a goddess." I said cautiously, "Venus is the power that we invoke in spring, in the garden, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/aeneas-mother-is-a-star-no-a-goddess-i-said-cautiously-venus-is-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“It was suffering and incapacity that created all afterworlds - this, and that brief madness of bliss which is experienced only by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-was-suffering-and-incapacity-that-created-all-afterworlds-this-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Every nation is part of the history we inherit, blacks and whites, slaves and gods; we have no other option, embracing each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/every-nation-is-part-of-the-history-we-inherit-blacks-and-whites/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Browse all 1,461 Gods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is very similar to the suggestion put forward by the Quirmian philosopher Ventre, who said, \"Possibly the gods exist, and possibly they do not. 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