Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe. It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.

Government without a constitution, is a power without a right.

...It would be more consistent that we call [the Bible] the work of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind.

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

Accustom a people to believe that priests, or any other class of men can forgive sins and you will have sins in abundance.

The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.

Oppression is often the consequence, but seldom or never the means of riches.