To the wise man, to the wise nation, the mistakes of the past are the torches of the present.

They knew no better, but I do not propose to follow the example of a barbarian because he was honestly a barbarian.

Courage without conscience is a wild beast.

I have no reverence for any book that teaches a doctrine contrary to my reason; no reverence for any book that teaches a doctrine contrary to my heart; and, no matter how old it is, no matter how many have believed it, no matter how many have died on account of it, no matter how many live for it, I have no reverence for that book, and I am glad of it.

To hate man and worship God seems to be the sum of all the creeds.

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.

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