Ignorance worships mystery; reason explains it; the one grovels, the other soars.

It is an old habit with theologians to beat the living with the bones of the dead.

Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction.

The man who invented the telescope found out more about heaven than the closed eyes of prayer ever discovered.

The most important thing in this world is liberty. More important than food or clothes - more important than gold or houses or lands - more important than art or science - more important than all religions, is the liberty of man.

If there be gods we cannot help them, but we can assist our fellow men. We cannot love the inconceivable, but we can love wife and child and friend.

The old man has been long at the fair. He is acquainted with the jugglers at the booths. His curiosity has been satisfied. He no longer cares for the exceptional, the monstrous, the marvelous and deformed. He looks through and beyond the gilding, the glitter and gloss, not only of things, but of conduct, of manners, theories, religions and philosophies. He sees clearer. The light no longer shines in his eyes.