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Only the idea of God gives me the confidence that morality will become reality on earth. And because I cannot live without this confidence, I cannot live without God.

— Hermann Cohen Reason and Hope: Selections from the Jewish Writings of Hermann Cohen (1971)

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God

More quotes by Hermann Cohen

The God who appears to me is the comforter of the poor and their avenger in world history. This avenger of the poor is the God I love.

The Concept of Religion in the System of Philosophy (1915)

In this light the God who appears to me is the comforter of the poor and their avenger in world history. This avenger of the poor is the God I love.

The Concept of Religion in the System of Philosophy (1915)

As faith in mankind, Israel's faith is hope. And it is this epitome of Israel's prophetism, this hope in mankind's future, that comprises the substance of the messianic idea.

Reason and Hope: Selections from the Jewish Writings of Hermann Cohen (1971)

Worm that I am, consumed by passion, cast as bait for selfishness, I must nonetheless love humanity. If I can do this, and insofar as I can do this, I can also love God.

The Concept of Religion in the System of Philosophy (1915)

Love of God implies love of religion. And religion exemplifies that creative spirit of God which is at work in history as well as in the mind of man. Thus, one ought to love any religion, that is, religion as such, and in any form—as a manifestation of the moral spirit, the divine spirit of mankind.

Reason and Hope: Selections from the Jewish Writings of Hermann Cohen (1971)

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Most intellectual people do not believe in God, but they fear him just the same.

Wilhelm Reich Philosophy : An Introduction to the Art of Wondering (2005)

When the mind is not dissipated upon extraneous things, nor diffused over the world about us through the senses, it withdraws within itself, and of its own accord ascends to the contemplation of God.

Basil of Caesarea

Once you accept the existence of God — however you define him, however you explain your relationship to him — then you are caught forever with his presence in the center of all things.

Morris West The Clowns of God (1981)

God seeks comrades and claims love,
the Devil seeks slaves and claims obedience.

Rabindranath Tagore Fireflies (1928)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Hermann Cohen (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.