
“I don't believe in empirical science. I only believe in a priori truth.”
"God Part II"
Lyrics, Rattle And Hum(1988)
Context: I don't believe the Devil, I don't believe his book, but the truth is not the same without the lies he made up.
“I don't believe in empirical science. I only believe in a priori truth.”
Finny, on his trust in Gene.
Source: A Separate Peace (1959), P. 163
"God"
Lyrics, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Source: An Erotic Beyond: Sade
“I don't believe in God because I don't believe in Mother Goose.”
Speech in Toronto (1930); as quoted in "Breaking the Last Taboo" (1996) by James A. Haught
As quoted in Jesus: Myth Or Reality? (2006) by Ian Curtis
Religion is the belief in future life and in God. I don't believe in either.
As quoted in The New York Times (19 April 1936)
Variant: I believe that religion is the belief in future life and in God. I don’t believe in either. I don’t believe in God as I don’t believe in Mother Goose.
“I for one don't even believe that he's president.”
Speech about Richard Nixon before playing "Ten Cents A Coup" on the Greatest Hits album (February 1970)
Context: I for one don't even believe that he's president. In order to have a president you need to have an election, in order to have an election you have to have a choice, and if you remember back to the primaries there were people running against the war, Kennedy and McCarthy. They often got 85 to 90% of the votes, but when it came time for the parties, that was totally ignored, so in point of fact, there really was no election. For a man who's always wanted to be president, and now that he's president, he's not even president.
"Artistic Freedom"
I'm a Born Liar (2003)
Context: I don't believe in total freedom for the artist. Left on his own, free to do anything he likes, the artist ends up doing nothing at all. If there's one thing that's dangerous for an artist, it's precisely this question of total freedom, waiting for inspiration and the rest of it.