“Faith: not wanting to know what is true.”
- October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900
- Born in Germany
- Philosopher, poet, and classical philologist
- With works such as “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” “Beyond Good and Evil,” and “The Genealogy of Morals,” he questioned traditional morality, religion, and truth, and had a major impact on modern philosophy.
Quote
“Faith: not wanting to know what is true.”
Explanation
In this quote, Friedrich Nietzsche offers a critical view of faith, particularly in religious or unquestioning belief systems. He suggests that faith is not about seeking truth or understanding the world through reason or evidence, but rather a deliberate avoidance of the truth. Faith, in this sense, involves choosing to believe in something without the need for proof or rational inquiry—rejecting the pursuit of objective truth in favor of accepting what is comforting or familiar. Nietzsche sees faith as a way of sheltering oneself from uncomfortable or inconvenient truths, and he critiques it for preventing individuals from fully engaging with reality as it is, in all its complexity and difficulty. For Nietzsche, true wisdom comes not from faith, but from the willingness to confront the truth, no matter how unsettling it may be.
Historically, Nietzsche often critiqued religion and the idea of faith for what he saw as their life-denying tendencies. He argued that faith in religious or dogmatic systems encouraged passivity and resignation, rather than promoting a will to power or a vital engagement with the world. Faith, in Nietzsche’s view, can be an obstacle to personal growth and empowerment, as it often encourages people to accept external authorities or beliefs rather than questioning and transforming their understanding of themselves and the world.
In modern contexts, this quote can be seen as a reflection on how faith—in both religious and secular forms—can sometimes act as a substitute for critical thinking. Whether in the form of blind allegiance to a particular ideology, unquestioned beliefs, or comforting myths, faith can prevent us from engaging with the complexities and uncertainties of life. Nietzsche’s words encourage us to embrace reason, inquiry, and personal responsibility for discovering truth, rather than relying on beliefs that avoid the challenge of facing reality as it is.
