What distinguishes the majority of men from the few is their inability to act according to their beliefs.

Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end. Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way.

On religion in particular the time appears to me to have come when it is the duty of all who, being qualified in point of knowledge, have on mature consideration satisfied themselves that the current opinions are not only false but hurtful, to make their dissent known.

Was there ever any domination that did not appear natural to those who possessed it?

Eloquence is heard; poetry is overheard ... All poetry is of the nature of the soliloquy.

What distinguishes the majority of men from the few is their inability to act according to their beliefs.

A being who can create a race of men devoid of real freedom and inevitably foredoomed to be sinners, and then punish them for being what he has made them, may be omnipotent and various other things, but he is not what the English language has always intended by the adjective holy.