This crime called blasphemy was invented by priests for the purpose of defending doctrines not able to take care of themselves.

Why should we desire the destruction of human passions? Take passions from human beings and what is left? The great object should be not to destroy passions, but to make them obedient to the intellect. To indulge passion to the utmost is one form of intemperance - to destroy passion is another. The reasonable gratification of passion under the domination of the intellect is true wisdom and perfect virtue.

He who commends the brutalities of the past, sows the seeds of future crimes.

If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake; that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been bad. This belief built the dungeons of the Inquisition. This belief made the Puritan murder the Quaker.

Do the best that can be done and then . . . be resigned.

Too much doubt is better than too much credulity.

The emblem of equal rights. It means free hands, free lips, self- government, and the sovereignty of the individual.