The first essential character [of civilization], I should say, is forethought. This, indeed, is what mainly distinguishes men from brutes and adults from children.

All religions are both harmful and untrue.

Religion may in most of its forms be defined as the belief that the gods are on the side of the government.

Historically, it is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all, and if He did we do not know anything about Him.

No great achievement is possible without persistent work.

There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge and wisdom. Shall we instead choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? I appeal as a human being to human beings; remember your humanity, and forget the rest.

Punctuality is a quality the need of which is bound up with social co-operation. It has nothing to do with the relation of the soul to God, or with mystic insight, or with any of the matters with which the more elevated and spiritual moralists are concerned.