The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widely spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

There is no reason to suppose that the world had a beginning at all. The idea that things must have a beginning is really due to the poverty of our thoughts.

Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own.

Opinions which justify cruelty are inspired by cruel impulses.

Moral progress has consisted in the main of protest against cruel customs, and of attempts to enlarge human sympathy.

It is because modern education is so seldom inspired by a great hope that it so seldom achieves great results.

Government can easily exist without laws, but law cannot exist without government.