Monotheism is in its turn doomed to subtract one more God and become atheism

Each time you admire the façade of the New York Public Library, you are paying homage to Western civilization.

Not only is the West so successful economically, but it leads the world scientifically, and culturally.

I maintain that Western popular culture at its best is worthy of respect and should be cherished as much as the operas of Wagner.

It is the West that has liberated women, racial minorities, religious minorities, and gays and lesbians, recognizing and defending their rights. The notions of freedom and human rights were present at the dawn of Western civilization, as ideals at least, but have gradually come to fruition through supreme acts of self-criticism.

You can't grow up without taking a few knocks on the way. All parents know that, but children when they're growing up, they take some knocks, and nasty knocks sometimes if they've been too protected.

All religions are sick men's dreams, false - demonstrably false - and pernicious.