Chaim Potok Quotes

In a chaotic world, fundamentalism can be a moral compass.

You're always going to have extremists in every religion.

I was told to challenge every spiritual teacher, every world leader to utter the one sentence that no religion, no political party, and no nation on the face of the earth will dare utter: 'Ours is not a better way, ours is merely another way.

I write a world where everyone is partly right.

Some people seem to gravitate from one fundamentalism to another, from some kind of secular fundamentalism into a religious fundamentalism or the other way around, which is not very helpful.

I think my politics are just inclined to be empathetic and humanistic. I grew up with so many different kinds of people with different politics, different religion, no religion, no politics, education, no education, and I was infatuated with all of them.

I deeply believe in pluralism. I believe in the close proximity of multiple systems or agnostic systems.

Nothing is more depressing and more illogical than aggressive Christianity.

My books are anti-absolutist and deeply distrustful of any religious stance that precludes the validity of any other.

There is nothing more inimical to writing than the spirit of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism abhors the play of signs, the endlessness of writing. Fundamentalism means nothing more or less than going back to an origin and staying there. It stands for one founding book and, thereafter, no more books.

Tolerance is as necessary in politics as it is in religion.

Experience tells us that people are not born with the innate ability nor the wish to see the Other as an equal individual in society. Pride in one’s separate identity can be so strong that it obscures the intrinsic value of other identities. Pluralism is a value that must be taught.

Radical Islam's principles are out there for all to see if they open their eyes. But what are our principles? In truth, they are up for grabs.

Terror outfits like ISIS don't believe in a plural society and diversity of faith, which reflects inherent beauty of human beings.

When I came here [to Malaysia] I heard that there is a problem with the concept of pluralism whereby pluralism is understood in a very narrow way, which I think is wrong. This is not to diminish your sense of truth in what you believe but to acknowledge the fact that we live in a world where we need to deal with pluralism. It's a fact.

There should be pluralism - the concept of many religions, many truths. But we must also be careful not to become nihilistic.

In the culture of pluralism...the only thing that cannot be tolerated is a claim to exclusivity.

All I require of a religion is that it be tolerant of those who do not agree with it.

I venture to say that it's not enough to respect and tolerate religions other than our own.

I myself am Muslim and I stand on the side of an open society.

I have never altered my feelings towards individuals, as men or as women, whether they believe as I do or not. Can you live as neighbors with me? I can with you; and it is no particular concern of mine whether you believe with me or not.

My 'Idea of India' calls not just for tolerance, but a celebration of all points of view. Where the sensibilities of every individual are respected

We can all live under the Constitution and all express ourself in radically different ways and not control each other.

We must continue to show tolerance for those whose opinions and sincerely held beliefs differ from our own. We must lead by example, finding a way to respect one another and to celebrate a culture that protects religious freedom while promoting equality under the law.

Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.