The question

What do you need to believe in order to get through the day?

Originally asked

Vox, to writers and thinkers, 9 Questions, 2017

Vox used this exact prompt throughout its named 9 Questions series on intellectual habits.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Others on this question

View all 25 →
Desmond Tutu Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town; chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Nobel Peace Prize, 1984
Many of us had moments when we doubted that apartheid would be defeated, certainly not in our lifetime. But, I never had that sense. I knew in a way that was unshakable, because you see, when you look at something like Good Friday, and saw God dead on the cross, nothing could have been more hopeless than Good Friday. And then, Easter happens, and whammo! Death is done to death, and Jesus breaks the shackles of death and devastation, of darkness, of evil. And, from that moment on, you see, all of us are constrained to be prisoners of hope. If God could do this with that utterly devastating thing, the desolation of a Good Friday, of the cross, well, what could stop God then from bringing good out of this great evil of apartheid? So, I never doubted that ultimately we were going to be free because ultimately, I knew there was no way in which a lie could prevail over the truth, darkness over light, death over life.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Jacqueline Novogratz Founder and chief executive of Acumen
A new generation that is determined to use the tools of capitalism without being controlled by it. To solve big problems of poverty and of the environment. We now have more tools, skills, understanding, and awareness than ever in history—so solving those problems is within our reach.
Recorded Acumen America, 22 May 2024 source ↗
Rosa Parks Civil-rights activist
I try to not think of those things that we cannot control, but I think if we continue to work with positive attitudes, conditions will be better for more people.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Ja’Tovia Gary visual artist and filmmaker
It requires me to be in prayer and meditation daily, or else I will literally spiral out. It’s something that I put at the forefront of my life.
Recorded Shaquille Heath, Elephant, 7 October 2023 source ↗

More from Alexander Armstrong

View profile →

More on values & belief

Also answered this

Alan Cumming, Geoffrey Rush, David Lynch, Ja’Tovia Gary, Desmond Tutu, Tom Lubbock

Search the directory for somebody in particular.

Explore further

Report this answer