It is in vain that we would circumscribe the power of one half of our race, and that half by far the most important and influential.

Religion may be defined thus: a belief in, and homage rendered to, existences unseen and causes unknown.

Many are called impious, not for having a worse, but a different religion from their neighbors; and many atheistical, not for the denying of God, but for thinking somewhat peculiarly concerning him.

It is in vain that we would circumscribe the power of one half of our race, and that half by far the most important and influential.

Credulity is always a ridiculous, often a dangerous failing: it has made of many a clever man, a fool; and of many a good man, a knave.

I am neither Jew nor Gentile, Mahomedan nor Theist; I am but a member of the human family.

How prone we are to come to the consideration of every question with heads and hearts pre-occupied! How prone to shrink from any opinion, however reasonable, if it be opposed to any, however unreasonable, of our own! How disposed are we to judge, in anger, those who call upon us to think, and encourage us to enquire! To question our prejudices seems nothing less than sacrilege; to break the chains of our ignorance, nothing short of impiety!