Reason may not always tell us what to believe, but it can help us on what we shouldn't believe.

The deepest difference between religions is not that between polytheism and monotheism.

The refusal to belong to any school of thought, the repudiation of the adequacy of any body of beliefs whatever, and especially of systems, and a marked dissatisfaction with traditional philosophy as superficial, academic, and remote from life-that is the heart of existentialism.

The problem of suffering is: why is there the suffering we know?

For atheism and polytheism there is no special problem of suffering, nor need there be for every kind of monotheism.

Thirdly, even if we assume that the world is governed by purpose, we need only add that this purpose - or, if there are several, at least one of them - is not especially intent on preventing suffering, whether it is indifferent to suffering or actually rejoices in it.

Man stands alone in the universe, responsible for his condition, likely to remain in a lowly state, but free to reach above the stars.