Jehovah was not a moral god. He had all the vices and he lacked all the virtues. He generally carried out all his threats, but he never faithfully kept a promise.

Ignorance is the soil in which belief in miracles grows.

When I became convinced that the universe is natural, that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood the sense, the feeling, the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell. The dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts and bars and manacles became dust.

It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving

The few took advantage of the ignorant many. They pretended to have received messages from the Unknown. They stood between the helpless multitude and the gods. They were the carriers of flags of truce. At the court of heaven they presented the cause of man, and upon the labor of the deceived they lived.

If you have ever clothed another with woe, as with a garment of pain, you will never be quite as happy as though you had not done that thing.

They knew no better, but I do not propose to follow the example of a barbarian because he was honestly a barbarian.