The knowledge exists by which universal happiness can be secured; the chief obstacle to its utilization for that purpose is the teaching of religion. Religion prevents our children from having a rational education; religion prevents us from removing the fundamental causes of war; religion prevents us from teaching the ethic of scientific cooperation in place of the old fierce doctrines of sin and punishment. It is possible that mankind is on the threshold of a golden age; but, if so, it will be necessary first to slay the dragon that guards the door, and this dragon is religion.

This is one of those views which are so absolutely absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them.

Force plays a much larger part in the government of the world than it did before 1914, and what is especially alarming, force tends increasingly to fall into the hands of those who are enemies of civilization.

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

A million million years gives us some time to prepare for the end . . . let us make the best of it.

The axiomatic method has many advantages over honest work.

One of the chief triumphs of modern mathematics consists in having discovered what mathematics really is.