If I were not an atheist, I would believe in a God who would choose to save people on the basis of the totality of their lives and not the pattern of their words. I think he would prefer an honest and righteous atheist to a TV preacher whose every word is God, God, God and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that actions and the overall character of a person matter more than mere words in determining one's worth or morality.
Isaac Asimov's quote critiques the notion of faith by contrasting the true essence of morality and righteousness with empty religious rhetoric. He suggests that a deity, if one existed, would value integrity and the totality of a person's actions over superficial declarations of faith, highlighting the importance of authenticity in one's life and choices.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the difference between faith and action at a philosophy club.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
This thing comes to me, not by the hearing of the ear, but by my own personal experience: I know of a surety that Jesus manifests Himself unto His people as He doth not unto the world.
Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine.
We often fancy that we suffer from ingratitude, while in reality we suffer from self-love.
The two elements the traveler first captures in the big city are extra human architecture and furious rhythm. Geometry and anguish.
The difference between sentiment and being sentimental is the following: Sentiment is when a driver swerves out of the way to avoid hitting a rabbit on the road. Being sentimental is when the same driver, when swerving away from the rabbit, hits a pedestrian.
Since I do not believe that there should be different recommendations for people living in the Bronx and people living in Manhattan, I am uncomfortable making different recommendations for my patients in Boston and in Haiti.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.