Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion.

Strange but true: those who have loved God most have loved men least.

My principal objections to orthodox religion are two: slavery here and hell hereafter.

Any doctrine that will not bear investigation is not a fit tenant for the mind of an honest man.

By physical liberty I mean the right to do anything which does not interfere with the happiness of another. By intellectual liberty I mean the right to think and the right to think wrong.

Whoever increases the sum of human joy, is a worshiper. He who adds to the sum of human misery, is a blasphemer.

They who stand with breaking hearts around this little grave, need have no fear. The larger and the nobler faith in all that is, and is to be, tells us that death, even at its worst, is only perfect rest ... The dead do not suffer.