--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing can dispel from my mind the most…" description: "\"“Nothing can dispel from my mind the most reassuring thought that this world is the creation of a shadowy god whose shadow I prolong. Faith leads to Ab..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg" --- # Nothing can dispel from my mind the most reassuring… ![“Nothing can dispel from my mind the most reassuring thought that this world is the creation of a shadowy god whose shadow I prolong. Faith leads to Absolute Optimism.” quote by Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg) > ““Nothing can dispel from my mind the most reassuring thought that this world is the creation of a shadowy god whose shadow I prolong. Faith leads to Absolute Optimism.”” [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A comforting belief is that a hidden divine force shapes reality, fostering unwavering optimism through faith. **In simple terms:** Faith in a hidden god gives hopeful optimism. Key Takeaway Cultivate hopeful perspectives while staying grounded. Themes faith optimism metaphysics Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - creative writing - spiritual practice - philosophical discussion Key Concepts theology existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What role does mystery play in hope? - Can optimism coexist with skepticism? A Different Perspective Blind faith may ignore empirical evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-optimism-6048394/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [God Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-shadow-315864/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reassuring Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reassuring-thought-6048393/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing can shake my belief that this world is the fruit of a dark god whose shadow I extend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-can-shake-my-belief-that-this-world-is-the-fruit-of-a-dark/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Behind the dim unknown, Standeth God with the shadow, keeping watch above his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/behind-the-dim-unknown-standeth-god-with-the-shadow-keeping-watch/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,- Yet that scaffold sways the Future, and, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/truth-forever-on-the-scaffold-wrong-forever-on-the-throne-yet-that/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“When you understand who God is, you can see beyond a shadow of a doubt why your weakness is nothing to be feared, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-and-michael-dimarco/when-you-understand-who-god-is-you-can-see-beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt/) [Hayley and Michael DiMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-and-michael-dimarco/) > [“Master Plato once said that Lux est umbra Dei; light is the shadow of God. I say this way: Light is the god of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/master-plato-once-said-that-lux-est-umbra-dei-light-is-the-shadow-of/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-campbell-morgan/what-we-do-in-the-crisis-always-depends-on-whether-we-see-the/) [G. Campbell Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-campbell-morgan/) > [“The theosophy of Light suggests the metaphor of the mirror and the shadow. But "shadow" must not be taken to imply a dimension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-corbin/the-theosophy-of-light-suggests-the-metaphor-of-the-mirror-and-the/) [Henry Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-corbin/) > [I love God's shadow better than man's light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-god-s-shadow-better-than-man-s-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't know what tomorrow might bring, but I'm still hoping no matter what it is, it's gonna be better than today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/i-don-t-know-what-tomorrow-might-bring-but-i-m-still-hoping-no-matter/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [“The basis of optimism is sheer terror. We think that we are generous because we credit our neighbour with the possession of those virtues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-basis-of-optimism-is-sheer-terror-we-think-that-we-are-generous/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I am to positive to be doubtful too optimistic too be fearful and too determined too be defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-to-positive-to-be-doubtful-too-optimistic-too-be-fearful-and-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Real optimism is not the pep talk you give yourself. It is earned through the labor involved in emotional housekeeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/real-optimism-is-not-the-pep-talk-you-give-yourself-it-is-earned/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Hope is not mere optimism; rather, it is moving forward in anticipation of redemption in spite of the improbability of rescue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/hope-is-not-mere-optimism-rather-it-is-moving-forward-in-anticipation/) [Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/) > [The late 1990s were really a moment of still tremendous hope and optimism about the relationship between Russia and the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-late-1990s-were-really-a-moment-of-still-tremendous-hope-and/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) ## More by Umberto Eco > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Followers of the occult believe in only what they already know, and in those things that confirm what they have already learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/followers-of-the-occult-believe-in-only-what-they-already-know-and-in/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“This has nothing to do with realism (even if it explains also realism). A completely real world can be constructed, in which asses fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/this-has-nothing-to-do-with-realism-even-if-it-explains-also-realism/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“…there’s nothing in this world that demands more caution than the truth. To tell the truth is like leeching one’s own heart...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-s-nothing-in-this-world-that-demands-more-caution-than-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The book is like the spoon, scissors, the hammer, the wheel. Once invented, it cannot be improved. You cannot make a spoon that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-book-is-like-the-spoon-scissors-the-hammer-the-wheel-once/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“No algorithm exists for the metaphor, nor can a metaphor be produced by means of a computer’s precise instructions, no matter what the volume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/no-algorithm-exists-for-the-metaphor-nor-can-a-metaphor-be-produced/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [With all of its defects, the global market makes war less likely, even between the USA and China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/with-all-of-its-defects-the-global-market-makes-war-less-likely-even/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Any fact becomes important when it's connected to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/any-fact-becomes-important-when-it-s-connected-to-another/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [American coffee can be a pale solution served at a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade in plastic thermos cups, usually obligatory in railroad stations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/american-coffee-can-be-a-pale-solution-served-at-a-temperature-of-100/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Listening doesn't mean trying to understand. Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [They say that a cat, if it falls from a window and hits its nose, can lose its sense of smell and then, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/they-say-that-a-cat-if-it-falls-from-a-window-and-hits-its-nose-can/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are magic moments, involving great physical fatigue and intense motor excitement, that produce visions of people known in the past. As I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-magic-moments-involving-great-physical-fatigue-and-intense/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [All poets write bad poetry. Bad poets publish them, good poets burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/all-poets-write-bad-poetry-bad-poets-publish-them-good-poets-burn-them/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-four-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-cretins-fools-morons-and/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) [Explore all 600 Umberto Eco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [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/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) [Matt Morris (1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-morris-1/) > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nothing can dispel from my mind the most reassuring thought that this world is the creation of a shadowy god whose shadow I prolong. Faith leads to Absolute Optimism.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Umberto Eco" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most-reassuring-thought-that-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Faith" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most-reassuring-thought-that-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/umberto-eco-313_faith_nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most_1594292.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing can dispel from my mind the most reassuring thought that this world is the creation of a shadowy god…” — Umberto Eco", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Umberto Eco", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nothing can dispel from my mind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most-reassuring-thought-that-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-can-dispel-from-my-mind-the-most-reassuring-thought-that-this/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```