Ludwig Wittgenstein Quotes on God
Ludwig Wittgenstein was an Austrian-British philosopher whose work transformed 20th-century analytic philosophy. This page collects quotes attributed to Ludwig Wittgenstein on the topic of god, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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“If God had looked into our minds he would not have been able to see there whom we were speaking of.”
Philosophical Investigations(1953) | Pt II, p. 217 -
“Religion is, as it were, the calm bottom of the sea at its deepest point, which remains calm however high the waves on the surface may be.”
Culture and Value(1980) | p. 53e -
“"I never believed in God before." — that I understand. But not: "I never really believed in Him before."”
Culture and Value(1980) | p. 53e -
“To believe in a God means to understand the question about the meaning of life. To believe in a God means to see that the facts of the world are not the end of the matter. To believe in God means to see that life has a meaning.”
Notebooks 1914-1916 | Journal entry (8 July 1916), p. 74e -
“Frazer's account of the magical and religious views of mankind is unsatisfactory; it makes these views look like errors .”
Philosophical Occasions 1912-1951(1993) | Ch. 7 : Remarks on Frazer's Golden Bough , p. 119 -
“A religious symbol does not rest on any opinion . And error belongs only with opinion. One would like to say: This is what took place here; laugh, if you can.”
Philosophical Occasions 1912-1951(1993) | Ch. 7 : Remarks on Frazer's Golden Bough , p. 123