Belief Quote by William Gilkerson
““By definition, any belief is something that sombody hopes is true; conversely, a disbelief is a hope that something is not true. Neither has anything whatever to do with the real truth, except to obscure it.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Belief and Disbelief” by William Gilkerson, 2005
Belief = hope for truth; disbelief = hope for falsehood; both obscure objective truth.
In simple terms: Hope shapes belief, clouding real truth.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and seek evidence.
Themes
philosophy
truth
belief
hope
critical thinking
epistemology
Mood
inquisitive
skeptical
Type
Belief:1
Disbelief:1
Faith:0
Hope:0
Real truth:0
Truth:0
Definition Belief:0
Belief Sombody:0
Conversely Disbelief:0
When to use this quote
- debate
- personal reflection
- academic study
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
philosophical inquiry
logic
Questions to Reflect On
- Do your hopes bias your conclusions?
- How can you separate hope from fact?
A Different Perspective
Disbelief can also motivate truth‑seeking.
![“WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but also that which is apprehended by the soul, the conviction that the object [of belief] is exactly as it is apprehended. If, as regards real or supposed truths, you…” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fbb/maimonides-2639_articles_when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in_78488.jpg)
