The disease with which the human mind now labors is want of faith.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Our faith is faith in someone else’s faith, and in the greatest matters this is most the case.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
To disbelieve is easy; to scoff is simple; to have faith is harder.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
You know, my faith is one that admits some doubt.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
The thing that is incredible is life itself. Why should we be here in this sun-illuminated universe? Why should there be green earth under our feet?
—Edwin Markham (1852–1940) American Poet, Educator
Every Age has its own peculiar faith. Any attempt to translate into facts the mission of one Age with the machinery of another, can only end in an indefinite series of abortive efforts. Defeated by the utter want of proportion between the means and the end, such attempts might produce martyrs, but never lead to victory.
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–72) Italian Patriot, Political Leader
Obey your soul, have perfect faith in yourself. Never think of yourself with doubt or distrust, or as one who makes mistakes.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
For the believer, there is no question; for the non-believer, there is no answer.
—Unknown
Faith is a total attitude of the self.
—John Macquarrie (1919–2007) British Theologian, Clergyman
We live by Faith; but Faith is not the slave
Of text and legend. Reason’s voice and God’s,
Nature’s and Duty’s, never are at odds.
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) American Quaker Poet, Abolitionist
Faith is loyalty to some inspired teacher, some spiritual hero.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Faith is a passionate intuition.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Do you sometimes think, if I could just see Christ. If I could meet him. If I could talk to him personally, then this life would be easier. But you have seen him. You have met him. You have talked to him personally. This knowledge, believed in faith, can make life easier.
—Unknown
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
For the multitude of worldly friends profiteth not, nor may strong helpers anything avail, nor wise counselors give profitable counsel, nor the cunning of doctors give consolation, nor riches deliver in time of need, nor a secret place to defend, if Thou, Lord, do not assist, help, comfort, counsel, inform, and defend.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. We should live for the future, and yet should find our life in the fidelities of the present; the last is only the method of the first.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Yet, in the maddening maze of things, And tossed by storm and flood, To one fixed trust my spirit clings; I know that God is good.
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) American Quaker Poet, Abolitionist
Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Who fathoms the Eternal Thought?$Who talks of scheme and plan?$The Lord is God! He needeth not$The poor device of man.
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) American Quaker Poet, Abolitionist
It is faith among men that holds the moral elements of society together, as it is faith in God that binds the world to his throne.
—William M. Evarts (1818–1901) American Lawyer, Statesman
What is this world that is hastening me toward I know not what, viewing me with contempt?
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
What holds most people back isn’t the quality of their ideas, but their lack of faith in themselves.
—Russell Simmons (b.1957) American Music Promoter
The primary cause of unhappiness in the world today is… lack of faith.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Faith—is the Pierless Bridge Supporting what We see Unto the Scene that We do not.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Faith is spiritualized imagination.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Faith is not only a means of obeying, but a principal act of obedience; not only an altar on which to sacrifice, but a sacrifice itself, and perhaps, of all, the greatest. It is a submission of our understandings; an oblation of our idolized reason to God, which he requires so indispensably, that our whole will and affections, though seemingly a larger sacrifice, will not, without it, be received at his hands.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Faith is much better than belief. Belief is when someone else does the thinking.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
Faith is the highest passion in a human being. Many in every generation may not come that far, but none comes further.
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
There are similarities between absolute power and absolute faith: a demand for absolute obedience, a readiness to attempt the impossible, a bias for simple solutions to cut the knot rather than unravel it, the viewing of compromise as surrender. Both absolute power and absolute faith are instruments of dehumanization. Hence, absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Faith consists in being vitally concerned with that ultimate reality to which I give the symbolical name of God. Whoever reflects earnestly on the meaning of life is on the verge of an act of faith.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
There is many a thing which the world calls disappointment, but there is no such a word in the dictionary of faith. What to others are disappointments are to believers intimations of the way of God.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
Living without faith is like driving in a fog.
—Common Proverb
Faith is verification by the heart; confession by the tongue; action by the limbs.
—Unknown
If it wasn’t for faith, there would be no living in this world; we couldn’t even eat hash with any safety.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
God is what man finds that is divine in himself. God is the best way man can behave in the ordinary occasions of life, and the farthest point to which man can stretch himself.
—Max Lerner (1902–92) Russian-born American Journalist
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Justifying faith implies, not only a divine evidence or conviction that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,” but a sure trust and confidence that Christ died for my sins, that He loved me and gave Himself for me.
—John Wesley (1703–91) British Methodist Religious Leader, Preacher, Theologian
Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow—for the milk and cheese and profit it brings them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort.
—Meister Eckhart (c.1260–1327) German Christian Mystic
It is always right that a man should be able to render a reason for the faith that is within him.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Hope is the belief, more or less strong, that joy will come desire is the wish it may come.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
A man with a grain of faith in God never loses hope, because he ever believes in the ultimate triumph of Truth
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing: it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Never yet did there exist a full faith in the divine word which did not expand the intellect while it purified the heart; which did not multiply the aims and objects of the understanding, while it fixed and simplified those of the desires and passions.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Faith is better understood as a verb than a noun, as a process than a possession. It is an on-again, off-again rather than once-and-for-all. Faith is not sure where you’re going, but going anyway.
—Frederick Buechner (b.1926) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Theologian