Fear paints pictures of ghosts and hangs them in the gallery of ignorance.

I want no heaven for which I must give my reason; no happiness in exchange for my liberty, and no immortality that demands the surrender of my individuality. Better rot in the windowless tomb, to which there is no door but the red mouth of the pallid worm, than to wear the jeweled collar of a god.

The object of all education should be to increase the usefulness of man - usefulness to himself and others.

Many people think they have religion when they are troubled with dyspepsia.

In a world of cruelty, sympathy is a crime, and in a world of lies, truth is blasphemy.

If cathedrals had been universities If dungeons of the Inquisition had been laboratories If Christians had believed in character instead of creed If they had taken from the bible only that which is GOOD and thrown away the wicked and absurd If temple domes had been observatories If priests had been philosophers If missionaries had taught useful arts instead of bible lore If astrology had been astronomy If the black arts had been chemistry If superstition had been science If religion had been humanity The world then would be a heaven filled with love, and liberty and joy

I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends.