The outer ring of Christianity is a rigid guard of ethical abnegations and professional priests; but inside that inhuman guard you will find the old human life dancing like children and drinking wine like men; for Christianity is the only frame for pagan freedom. But in the modern philosophy the case is opposite; it is its outer ring that is obviously artistic and emancipated; its despair is within.

The Darwinian movement has made no difference to mankind, except that, instead of talking unphilosophically about philosophy, they now talk unscientifically about science.

Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas . . . for it is the assertion of a universal negative.

I have little doubt that when St. George had killed the dragon he was heartily afraid of the princess.

When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything.

To hurry through one's leisure is the most unbusiness-like of actions.

The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion, but, on the contrary, of its liberality and humanity. It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted; precisely because most things are permitted, and only a few things are forbidden.