The first step is to fill your life with a positive faith that will help you through anything. The second is to begin where you are.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Others boast of their love for God. My boast is that I did not love God; it was He who loved me and sought me out and forced me to belong to Him.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
There are no planes in the spiritual life; we are either going uphill or coming down.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
The essence of all religions is one. Only their approaches are different.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
At the beginning of every act of faith, there is often a seed of fear. For great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
Our faith comes in moments… yet there is a depth in those brief moments which constrains us to ascribe more reality to them than to all other experiences.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If you have abandoned one faith, do not abandon all faith. There is always an alternative to the faith we lose. Or is it the same faith under another mask?
—Graham Greene (1904–91) British Novelist, Playwright, Short Story Writer
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. You must be able to sustain yourself against staggering blows. There is no code of conduct to help beginners. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent.
—Sophia Loren (b.1934) Italian Actor
Faith, like light, should always be simple and unbending; while love, like warmth, should beam forth on every side, and bend to every necessity of our brethren.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Even when one has climbed up into those levels of bliss where pain vanishes, it still survives disguised as intolerable ecstasy.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
If I could choose what of all things would be at the same time the most delightful and useful to me, I should prefer a firm religious belief to every other blessing; for this makes life a discipline of goodness; creates new hopes when all earthly ones vanish; throws over the decay of existence the most gorgeous of all lights; awakens life even in death; makes even torture and shame the ladder of ascent to paradise; and far above all combinations of earthly hopes, calls up the most delightful visions of the future, the security of everlasting joys, where the sensualist and the skeptic view only gloom, decay, annihilation, and despair.
—Humphry Davy (1778–1829) British Chemist, Inventor
Faith … acts promptly and boldly on the occasion, on slender evidence.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
You can be anything you want to be, if you only believe with sufficient conviction and act in accordance with your faith; for whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
Faith must be enforced by reason. When faith becomes blind it dies.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Your faith is what you believe, not what you know.
—John Lancaster Spalding (1840–1916) American Catholic Clergyman, Educator, Essayist, Biographer
Faith is much better than belief. Belief is when someone else does the thinking.
—Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) American Inventor, Philosopher
We cannot live on probabilities. The faith in which we can live bravely and die in peace must be a certainty, so far as it professes to be a faith at all, or it is nothing.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it, when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it, even if I did not have the ability in the beginning.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If Hell were possible, it would be the shortest cut to the highest heaven. For verily God loveth.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
I slept with faith and found a corpse in my arms on awakening; I drank and danced all night with doubt and found her a virgin in the morning.
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) English Occultist, Mystic, Magician
Prayer needs a heart, not a tongue.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
It is impossible on reasonable grounds to disbelieve miracles.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Walk boldly and wisely… There is a hand above that will help you on.
—Philip James Bailey (1816–1902) English Poet
Faith must have adequate evidence, else it is mere superstition.
—Archibald Alexander Hodge (1823–86) American Presbyterian Theologian
Like Confucius of old, I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and the angels. I have enough for this life. If there is no other life, then this one has been enough to make it worth being born, myself a human being.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
It is useless to tell me not to reason but to believe—you might as well tell a man not to wake but sleep.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
He is called “faithful” who wants to see the righteous one and listen to his teachings and who gets rid of his mental stain of miserliness.
—Buddhist Teaching
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Christian Writer, Preacher
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
—J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) British Scholar, Author
Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrong.
—Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855) English Novelist, Poet
It’s easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you’re a winner, when you’re number one. What you’ve got to have is faith and discipline when you’re not yet a winner.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.
—A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) American Christian Pastor, Preacher, Author, Editor
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
With each success your faith in the law will grow stronger, until you reach the point of total conviction. Then you will be invincible.
—Roger McDonald (b.1941) Australian Novelist, Poet, Screenwriter, Writer
Is he alone who has courage on his right hand and faith on his left hand?
—Charles Lindbergh (1902–74) American Aviator, Inventor, Conservationist
Faith is the pierless bridge supporting what we see unto the scene that we do not.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Only the person who has faith in himself is able to be faithful to others.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German Psychologist, Psychoanalyst, Philosopher
Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Base souls have no faith in great individuals.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
The only faith that wears well and holds its color in all weathers is that which is woven of conviction and set with the sharp mordant of experience.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.
—Richard Dawkins (b.1941) British Evolutionary Biologist, Atheist
Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
Faith is a function of the heart. It must be enforced by reason. The two are not antagonistic as some think. The more intense one’s faith is, the more it whet’s one’s reason. When faith becomes blind it dies.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Faith which does not doubt is dead faith.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Essayist, Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Philosopher
Faith is an act of self-consecration, in which the will, the intellect, and the affections all have their place.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
Because you cannot see him, God is everywhere.
—Yasunari Kawabata (1899–1972) Japanese Novelist, Short Story Writer
For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it’s okay to remain a radical atheist, it’s absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart—then no problem.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Whom the heart of man shuts out, Sometimes the heart of God takes in.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
I have never understood why it should be considered derogatory to the Creator to suppose that he has a sense of humour.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible.
—Unknown
No man hates God without first hating himself.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
Faith is not a delicate flower which would wither away under the slightest stormy weather.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
He who has a reasonable faith, practises the Code of Discipline and Morality, and is endowed with wealth and rank, is always respected wherever he goes.
—Buddhist Teaching
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
Can a faith that does nothing be called sincere?
—Jean Racine (1639–1699) French Dramatist
Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Those who, out of piety and purity of mind, distribute rice, will obtain rice both in this world and in the hereafter.
—Buddhist Teaching
Faith embraces many truths which seem to contradict each other.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Faith will move mountains.
—Common Proverb
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 assuages, guides, restores.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet
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 kingdom of God is within you.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Faith, to my mind, is a stiffening process, a sort of mental starch, which ought to be applied as sparingly as possible.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
He who has no faith in others shall find no faith in them.
—Laozi (b.604BCE–d:Unknown) Chinese Philosopher
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 Clergyman, Theologian
Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. — But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of faith, for it assumes the permanence and uniformity of natural laws — a thing which can never be demonstrated.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
Faith is God felt by heart, not by reason.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
What we wish, that we readily believe.
—Demosthenes (384–322 BCE) Greek Statesman, Orator
A perfect faith would lift us absolutely above fear.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Christian Author, Poet, Minister
I see heaven’s glories shine and faith shines equal…
—Emily Bronte (1818–48) English Novelist, Poet
There is one inevitable criterion of judgment touching religious faith . .. Can you reduce it to practice? If not, have none of it.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Universalist Clergyman, Writer
When I was mounting upon ever higher crests of His joy, I asked myself whether there was no limit to the increase of bliss and almost I grew afraid of God’s embraces.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
Fear clogs; Faith liberates.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
My faith runs so very much faster than my reason that I can challenge the whole world and say, “God is, was and ever shall be.”
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
We cannot hand our faith to one another … Even in the Middle Ages, when faith was theoretically uniform, it was always practically individual.
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933) American Biographer, Poet, Essayist, Writer
Faith in our associates is part of our faith in God.
—Charles Cooley (1864–1929) American Sociologist
To believe only possibilities is not faith, but mere philosophy.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Christian Author, Mystic
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
Faith builds the bridge from this old world to the new.
—Owen D. Young (1874–1962) American Businessperson, Lawyer, Diplomat
Faith makes the discords of the present the harmonies of the future.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
Faith, as an intellectual state, is self-reliance.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
You can change your faith without changing gods, and vice versa.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
Every law of matter or the body, supposed to govern man, is rendered null and void by the law of Life, God.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
My faith hath no bed to sleep upon but omnipotency.
—Samuel Rutherford (1600–61) Scottish Presbyterian Theologian, Author
Life is a battle between faith and reason in which each feeds upon the other, drawing sustenance from it and destroying it.
—Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) American Christian Theologian
Some like to understand what they believe in. Others like to believe in what they understand.
—Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (1909–1966) Polish Aphorist, Poet
Nothing can be more hurtful to an honourable man than that he should be accused of bad faith.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Non-violence is the article of faith.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Faith is believing where we cannot prove.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Faith is kept alive in us, and gathers strength, more from practice than from speculations.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
There is nothing that fear and hope does not permit men to do.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
In order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.
—David Ben-Gurion (1886–1973) Russian-born Israeli Head of State
It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes life worth looking at.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
All the strength and force of man comes from his faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong; he who doubts is weak. Strong convictions precede great actions. The man strongly possessed of an idea is the master of all who are uncertain and wavering. Clear, deep, living convictions rule the world.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Unitarian Clergyman, Abolitionist, Author
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
To commit adultery with God is the perfect experience for which the world was created.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
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 Protestant Clergyman, Social Reformer, Abolitionist
Pardon, not wrath, is God’s best attribute.
—Bayard Taylor (1825–78) American Poet, Literary Critic, Translator, Translator
It is a masterpiece of the devil to make us believe that children cannot understand religion. Would Christ have made a child the standard of faith if He had known that it was not capable of understanding His words?
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
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
The downside, of course, is that over time religions become encrusted with precepts and ideas that are the antithesis of soul, as each faith tries to protect its doctrines and institution instead of nurturing the evolution of consciousness. If one is not careful to distinguish the genuine insights of a religion from its irrelevant accretions, one can go through life following an inappropriate moral compass.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (b.1934) Hungarian-American Psychologist
Faith without works is like a bird without wings; though she may hop with her companions on earth, yet she will never fly with them to heaven.
—Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) English Dramatist
Grace is something you can never get but only be given.
—Frederick Buechner (b.1926) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Theologian
Faith means living with uncertainty – feeling your way through life, letting your heart guide you like a lantern in the dark.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
^Believe^
Believe in yourself, what you think, what you feel.
Believe in the truth, in the good, the ideal.
Believe that your dreams can someday become real…
Forever and always, believe.
Believe in yourself and what you can do.
Believe in the goals that you strive to pursue.
Believe in the friends who believe in you too…
Forever and always, believe.
—Jessica Lucas
Faith is nothing but obedience and piety.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher
Faith begins as an experiment and ends as an experience.
—William Ralph Inge (1860–1954) English Anglican Clergyman, Priest, Mystic
Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.
—Sam Shoemaker (1893–1963) American Episcopal Priest
My lover took away my robe of sin and I let it fall, rejoicing; then he plucked at my robe of virtue, but I was ashamed and alarmed and prevented him. It was not till he wrested it from me by force that I saw how my soul had been hidden from me.
—Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian Mystic, Philosopher, Poet
I reject any religious doctrine that does not appeal to reason and is in conflict with morality.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.
—William Allen White (1868–1944) American Editor, Politician, Author
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You’re not free until you’ve been made captive by supreme belief.
—Marianne Moore
The planting of trees is the least self-centered of all that we can do. It is a purer act of faith than the procreation of children.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Anybody who has been seriously engaged is scientific work of any kind realizes that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: ‘Ye must have faith.’ It is a quality which the scientist cannot dispense with.
—Max Planck (1858–1947) German Theoretical Physicist
Who put up that cage? Who hung it up with bars, doors? Why do those on the inside want to get out? Why do those outside want to get in? What is this crying inside and out all the time? What is this endless, useless beating of baffled wings at these bars, doors, this cage?
—Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American Biographer, Novelist, Socialist
Even though there may be one person in a family who has a reasonable faith, who is wise, righteous and well-behaved, that person can be helpful to his relatives or friends who have wrong views.
—Buddhist Teaching
Faith, and belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Editor, Journalist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Skepticism is the beginning of Faith.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet
Not Truth, but Faith, it is
That keeps the world alive.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) American Poet, Playwright, Feminist