We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid.

The whole reason for the success of Dr. King's civil-rights movement was that it was not a movement for itself. The civil-rights movement understood very clearly, and stated very beautifully, that it was a question of humanism, not a sectarian movement at all.

If you gave [Jerry] Falwell an enema he could be buried in a matchbox.

The diet book is one of those fool-and-money separation devices that seems, like roulette or slot machines, never to lose its power.

Human decency is not derived from religion. It precedes it.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent? To the ones that arise from urgent material needs.

I don't think the war in Afghanistan was ruthlessly enough waged.