All religions are inconsistent with mental freedom. Shakespeare is my bible, Burns my hymn-book.

It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions.

Small people delight in what they call consistency-that is, it gives them immense pleasure to say that they believe now exactly as they did ten years ago. This simply amounts to a certificate that they have not grown-that they have not developed-and that they know just as little now as they ever did. The highest possible conception of consistency is to be true to the knowledge of today, without the slightest reference to what your opinion was years ago.

All laws for the purpose of making man worship God, are born of the same spirit that kindled the fires of the auto da fe, and lovingly built the dungeons of the Inquisition. All laws defining and punishing blasphemy - making it a crime to give your honest ideas about the Bible, or to laugh at the ignorance of the ancient Jews, or to enjoy yourself on the Sabbath, or to give your opinion of Jehovah, were passed by impudent bigots, and should be at once repealed by honest men. An infinite God ought to be able to protect himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures.

Argument cannot be answered with insults. Kindness is strength; anger blows out the lamp of the mind.

If the world ever advances beyond what it is today, it must be led by men who express their real opinions.

The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.