When God lets loose a great thinker on this planet, then all things are at risk. There is not a piece of science but its flank may be turned tomorrow; nor any literary reputation or the so-called eternal names of fame that may not be refused and condemned.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A foe to God was never a true friend to man.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
I found thee not, O Lord, without, because I erred in seeking thee without that wert within.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
The spiritual journey does not consist in arriving at a new destination where a person gains what he did not have, or becomes what he is not. It consists in the dissipation of one’s own ignorance concerning one’s self and life, and the gradual growth of that understanding which begins the spiritual awakening. The finding of God is a coming to one’s self.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
Some people talk about frnding God, as if He could get lost.
—Unknown
He does much who loves God much, and he does much who does his deed well, and he does his deed well who does it rather for the common good than for his own will.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
People are too apt to treat God as if he were a minor royalty.
—Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917) English Actor, Theater Personality
The mantram becomes one’s staff of life and carries one through every ordeal. Each repetition has a new meaning, carrying you nearer and nearer to God.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Those who set out to serve both God and Mammon soon discover that there isn’t a God.
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) American-British Essayist, Bibliophile
No man has come to true greatness who has not felt in some degree that his life belongs to his race, and that what God gives him He gives him for mankind.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.
—Desmond Tutu (b.1931) South African Clergyman
Walk boldly and wisely… There is a hand above that will help you on.
—Philip James Bailey (1816–1902) English Poet
If there was not God, there would be no atheists.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.
—Lenny Bruce (1925–66) American Comedian, Writer, Social Critic, Satirist
I was six when I saw that everything was God, and my hair stood up, and all, Teddy said. It was on a Sunday, I remember. My sister was a tiny child then, and she was drinking her milk, and all of a sudden I saw that she was God and the milk was God. I mean, all she was doing was pouring God into God, if you know what I mean.
—J. D. Salinger (1919–2010) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
There is but one ultimate Power. This Power is to each one what he is to it.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
Without faith it is impossible to please God, and without faith it is impossible for you to become great. The distinguishing characteristic of all really great men and women is an unwavering faith.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Holiness is doing God’s will with a smile.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
I learned the most important lesson of my life: that the extraordinary is not the birthright of a chosen and privileged few, but of all people, even the humblest. That is my one certainty: we are all the manifestation of the divinity of God.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
I like to interpose in all of my appointments, if the Lord wills.
—Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843–1919) Canadian Protestant Preacher, Theologian, Author
The dice of God are always loaded.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can’t readily accept the God formula, the big answers don’t remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.
—Charles Bukowski (1920–94) American Writer
By the year 2000 we will, I hope, raise our children to believe in human potential, not God.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
In all the vast and the minute, we see the unambiguous footsteps of the God, who gives its luster to the insect’s wing, and wheels his throne upon the rolling worlds.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
When the solution is simple, God is answering.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.
—Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) American Architect
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Friends are God’s way of apologizing to us for our families.
—Indian Proverb
I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The pain that’s created by avoiding hard work is actually much worse than any pain created from the actual work itself. Because if you don’t begin to work on those ideas that God has blessed you with, they will become stagnant inside of you and eventually begin to eat away at you. You might seem OK on the outside, but inside you will be ill from not getting those ideas out of your heart and into the world. Stalling leads to sickness. But taking steps, even baby steps, always leads to success.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see the greatness in you, who feel connected to God, who live a life that gives evidence that Spirit has found celebration through them.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God’s will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at a commensurate speed.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power.
—Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) Serbian-American Electrical Engineer, Inventor
Man must cast out of himself everything which separates him from God. He must will to live the divine life, and he must rise above all moral temptations; he must forsake every course of action that is not in accord with his highest ideals.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
Few nations have been so poor as to have but one god. Gods were made so easily, and the raw material cost so little, that generally the god market was fairly glutted and heaven crammed with these phantoms.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
Gawd knows, and ‘E won’t split on a pal.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant, and the cat. He has no real style. He just keeps on trying other things.
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
God gets you to the plate, but once your there your on your own.
—Ted Williams (1918–2002) American Sportsperson
My God these fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in three months.
—David McCullough (b.1933) American Historian
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
My religion consists of a humble admiration of the unlimitable superior who reveals Himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
I rarely speak about God. To God, yes. I protest against Him. I shout at Him. But to open a discourse about the qualities of God, about the problems that God imposes, theodicy, no. And yet He is there, in silence, in filigree.
—Elie Wiesel (b.1928) Romanian-born American Writer, Professor, Political Activist
Your sole purpose in life is to attain God-realization. All else is useless and worthless.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
One and God make a majority.
—Frederick Douglass (1817–95) American Abolitionist, Author, Editor, Diplomat, Political leader
Rapine, avarice, expense, This is idolatry; and these we adore; Plain living and high thinking are no more.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
God: The most popular scapegoat for our sins.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Be God or let God.
—Unknown
The whole world is a phylactery, and everything we see is an item of the wisdom, power, or goodness of God.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
Beauty is God’s handwriting.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist