QuoteProject
It’s a strange myth that atheists have nothing to live for. It’s the opposite. We have nothing to die for. We have everything to live for.
Ricky Gervais
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Atheists find meaning in life itself rather than in the fear of death, emphasizing the value of living fully.

Ricky Gervais conveys that the common misconception about atheists believing life lacks purpose is misguided. Instead, he argues that atheists actually emphasize the importance of living life to its fullest without being constrained by the fear of death or the need for an afterlife. This perspective suggests that life is inherently valuable and that individuals have a profound reason to embrace existence, creating meaning through their experiences and relationships.

Themes

AtheismLifeMeaningExistencePurpose

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the purpose of life at a philosophy club.

More from Ricky Gervais

You should make something. You should bring something into the world that wasn't in the world before. It doesn't matter what it is. It doesn't matter if it's a table or a film or gardening-everyone should create. You should do something, then sit back and say, 'I did that.'
Ricky GervaisRead
It's better to create something that others criticise than to create nothing and criticise others. Go create, have fun!!
Ricky GervaisRead
Science seeks the truth. And it does not discriminate. For better or worse it finds things out. Science is humble. It knows what it knows and it knows what it doesn’t know. It bases its conclusions and beliefs on hard evidence -­- evidence that is constantly updated and upgraded. It doesn’t get offended when new facts come along. It embraces the body of knowledge. It doesn’t hold on to medieval practices because they are tradition.
Ricky GervaisRead
I used to believe in God. The Christian one, that is (There are a few thousand to choose from. But I was born in a country where the dominant religion was Christianity so I believed in that one. Isn't it weird how that always happens?). Luckily I was also interested in science and nature. And reason and logic. And honesty and truth. And equality and fairness. By the age of eight I was an atheist.
Ricky GervaisRead
People now live their lives like an open wound to be famous - they do bad things because they're rewarded for it.
Ricky GervaisRead
A Christian telling an atheist they're going to hell is as scary as a child telling an adult they're not getting any presents from Santa.
Ricky GervaisRead

Similar quotes

To be a philosophical sceptic is, in a man of letters, the first and most essential to being a sound, believing Christian.
David HumeRead
We're born naked, and the rest is drag.
RupaulRead
God is the creator of all things, right? He is the force that dictates the laws of the universe, and is therefore the ultimate source of ethics. He is absolute morality... We claim to be doing good. But the Lord Ruler - as God - defines what is good. So by opposing him we're actually evil. But since he's doing the wrong thing, does evil actually count as good in this case?
Brandon SandersonRead
Science grows and Beauty dwindles.
Alfred Lord TennysonRead
Authority and place demonstrate and try the tempers of men, by moving every passion and discovering every frailty.
PlutarchRead
Rich Mullins was the uneasy conscience of Christian music. He didn't live like a star. He'd taken a vow of poverty so that what he earned could be used to help others.
Amy GrantRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.