There's Something Pagan in Me
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
22 January 2026
" There is something pagan in me that I cannot shake off. In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything."
― Lord George Gordon Byron
Lord Byron's aforementioned quote encapsulates his profound, introspective nature and relentless pursuit of truth. Byron acknowledges an inherent connection to a primordial, primal instinct within him, reminiscent of the paganism of ancient civilizations. This admission illuminates his refusal to conform to prevalent societal norms and traditions without critical examination. By proclaiming that he denies nothing, Byron implies his expansive worldview and willingness to embrace all aspects of life, experiences, and perspectives. However, his profound skepticism encourages constant questioning and scrutiny, demonstrating his refusal to accept anything at face value. Lord Byron's quote encapsulates his complex and enigmatic personality, serving as a testament to his relentless pursuit of knowledge and his refusal to settle for easy answers.
Every individual ought to have this Byronic spirit in him or her; accept everything, albeit with a pinch of salt. Skepticism is not cynicism. Byron was a rebel and a rebel always questions. He doesn't accept the fixed answers. Nor does he approve of any definitive label. Byron famously crossed out 'atheist' from a register where his friend P B Shelley had written it, showing his aversion to the definitive label.
Today, when people call themselves theists and atheists, they restrict themselves to labels. Humans have this tendency to indulge in all sorts of nomenclature and pigeonhole others and themselves. " Parvaaz mera sheva hai/ Koi gosha-e-falak mera apna nahin " (To fly is my life / No corner of the sky is mine).
One can learn from Byron. Believe nothing because there's nothing believable. Influenced by Greek Philosophy and its Greek exponents, Byron believed in questioning. This is one quality that we all seem to have shelved. We don't question. We don't question our Holy books, faiths, beliefs, gods and goddesses and all that must be questioned before acceptance. We don't question our political leaders and their outlandish, nay asinine, policies. We don't question our own existence. We remain inert and sluggish. Elsewhere, Byron wrote, " What should I have known or written had I been a quiet, mercantile politician or a lord in waiting? A man must travel, and turmoil or there is no existence." Byron postulated that had he lived a quiet, mundane life as a politician or a nobleman, his knowledge and works would have remained limited.
Byron believed that in order to truly understand and express the depth of human existence, one must embark on a journey, both metaphorical and literal. He asserted that a life devoid of turmoil or excitement lacked true substance, as it is through encountering challenges and exploring the unknown that a person can truly comprehend the intricacies of life. Byron's words encourage individuals to embrace the chaos and unpredictability of existence, for it is in those testing moments that we come to realize our full potential and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Byron believed in intellectual deracination. An evolved soul is eternally rootless. To be rooted at one place, invites cerebral stagnancy.
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