I certainly never believed, more or less, in the "essential doctrines" of Christianity, which represent God as the predestinator of men to sin and perdition, and Christ as their rescuer from that doom. I never was more or less behuiled by the trickery of language by which the perdition of man is made out to be justice, and his redemption to be mercy.

. . . is it to be understood that the principles of the Declaration of Independence bear no relation to half of the human race?

His subject is the "Origin of Species," & not the origin of Organization; & it seems a needless mischief to have opened the latter speculation at all.

I romanced internally about early death till it was too late to die early.

it is the worst humiliation and grievance of the suffering, that they cause suffering.

Religion is a temper, not a pursuit.

Marriage ... is still the imperfect institution it must remain while women continue to be ill-educated, passive, and subservient.