The hope of science is the perfection of the human race. The hope of theology is the salvation of a few, and the damnation of almost everybody.

Blasphemy is an epithet bestowed by superstition upon common sense.

If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake; that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been bad. This belief built the dungeons of the Inquisition. This belief made the Puritan murder the Quaker.

To avoid pain we must know the conditions of health. For the accomplishment of this end we must rely upon investigation instead of faith, upon labor in place of prayer. Most misery is produced by ignorance. Passions sow the seeds of pain.

If there be an infinite Being, he does not need our help - we need not waste our energies in his defense.

I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a famine!

In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.