Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion.

According to the celestial multiplication table, once one is three, and three times one is one, and according to heavenly subtraction if we take two from three, three are left. The addition is equally peculiar, if we add two to one we have but one. Each one is equal to himself and the other two.

Every man is dishonest who lives upon the labor of others, no matter if he occupies a throne.

Let us put theology out of religion. Theology has always sent the worst to heaven, the best to hell.

Intellectual liberty [is] the right to think right and the right to think wrong. Thought is the means by which we endeavor to arrive at truth.

I hate above all things a cross man. What right has he to murder the sunshine of a day? What right has he to assassinate the Joy of life? When you go home, you ought to go like a ray of light-so that it will, even in the night, burst out of the doors and windows and illuminate the darkness.

If the people were a little more ignorant, astrology would flourish - if a little more enlightened, religion would perish.