If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I will, I could not produce a better scheme of life than now prevails, I would be ashamed of my efforts and consider my work a humiliating failure.

If a man wishes to have God recognized in the constitution of our country, let him read the history of the Inquisition, and let him remember that hundreds of millions of men, women, and children have been sacrificed to placate the wrath, or win the approbation of this god.

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.

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.

Upon the great questions of origin, of destiny, of immortality, of . . . other worlds, every honest man must say, 'I do not know.' Upon these questions, this is the creed of intelligence.

The destroyer of weeds, thistles, and thorns is a benefactor whether he soweth grain or not.

The churches have no confidence in each other. Why? Because they are acquainted with each other.