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For my part I cannot believe in a God who is angry with me because I do not believe in him. I cannot believe in a God who is less tolerant than I. I cannot believe in a God who has neither humour nor common sense.
W. Somerset Maugham
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses a personal struggle with conventional religious beliefs, emphasizing the need for tolerance and understanding in a deity.

W. Somerset Maugham's quote reflects his skepticism towards traditional notions of God, particularly the idea of a vengeful deity who punishes individuals for their lack of belief. It highlights a deep desire for a more compassionate and reasonable understanding of divinity, advocating for tolerance and common sense over dogma.

Themes

GodBeliefToleranceHumorPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about the nature of belief in God.

More from W. Somerset Maugham

The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
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Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
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