Fear is a dagger with which hypocrisy assassinates the soul. Robert Green Ingersoll More Quotes by Robert Green Ingersoll More Quotes From Robert Green Ingersoll Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will not investigate, and if you think it wrong, the church will investigate you. Robert Green Ingersoll atheismchurchthinking Justice should remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate. Robert Green Ingersoll justice-for-alleyelong Every pulpit is a pillory, in which stands a hired culprit, defending the justice of his own imprisonment. Robert Green Ingersoll culpritatheismjustice When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death - that is heroism. Robert Green Ingersoll fatehonordeath Love is the only bow on Life's dark cloud. It is the Morning and the Evening Star. It shines upon the cradle of the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of Art—inspirer of poet, patriot, and philosopher. It is the air and light of every heart— builder of every home—kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody, for Music is the voice of Love. Robert Green Ingersoll motherdreamlove Man must learn to rely upon himself. Reading bibles will not protect him from the blasts of winter, but houses, fires. and clothing will. To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons, and even patent medicines will cure more diseases than all the prayers uttered since the beginning of the world. Robert Green Ingersoll readingprayerwinter The clergy know that I know that they know that they do not know. Robert Green Ingersoll clergypositive-atheismatheist If nobody has too much, everybody will have enough. Robert Green Ingersoll too-muchifsenough The more liberty you give away the more you will have. Robert Green Ingersoll libertygiving A mule has neither pride of ancestry nor hope of posterity. Robert Green Ingersoll mulesancestrypride It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions, -- some one who had the grandeur to say his say. I believe it was Magellan who said, The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the church. On the prow of his ship were disobedience, defiance, scorn, and success. Robert Green Ingersoll blessedfaithbelieve Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion. Robert Green Ingersoll civilizedmenreligion The old man has been long at the fair. He is acquainted with the jugglers at the booths. His curiosity has been satisfied. He no longer cares for the exceptional, the monstrous, the marvelous and deformed. He looks through and beyond the gilding, the glitter and gloss, not only of things, but of conduct, of manners, theories, religions and philosophies. He sees clearer. The light no longer shines in his eyes. Robert Green Ingersoll eyemenphilosophy A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing. Robert Green Ingersoll eaglesatheistwings 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. Robert Green Ingersoll sufferingperfectheart He was a worshiper of liberty, a friend of the oppressed. A thousand times I have heard him quote these words: 'For Justice all place a temple, and all season, summer.' He believed that happiness is the only good, reason the only torch, justice the only worship, humanity the only religion, and love the only priest. He added to the sum of human joy; and were every one to whom he did some loving service to bring a blossom to his grave, he would sleep tonight beneath a wilderness of flowers. . . . Robert Green Ingersoll flowersummerlove It is told that the great Angelo, in decorating a church, painted some angels wearing sandals. A cardinal looking at the picture said to the artist: Whoever saw angels with sandals? Angelo answered with another question: Whoever saw an angel barefooted? Robert Green Ingersoll atheismangelartist The idea of immortality, that like a sea has ebbed and flowed in the human heart, with its countless waves of hope and fear, beating against the shores and rocks of time and fate, was not born of any book, nor of any creed, nor of any religion. It was born of human affection, and it will continue to ebb and flow beneath the mists and clouds of doubt and darkness as long as love kisses the lips of death. It is the rainbow -- Hope shining upon the tears of grief. Robert Green Ingersoll griefheartbook Age after age, the strong have trampled upon the weak; the crafty and heartless have ensnared and enslaved the simple and innocent, and nowhere, in all the annals of mankind, has any god succored the oppressed Robert Green Ingersoll heartlessstrongsimple Would God give a bird wings and make it a crime to fly? Would he give me brains and make it a crime to think? Any God that would damn one of his children for the expression of his honest thought wouldn't make a decent thief. When I read a book and don't believe it, I ought to say so. I will do so and take the consequences like a man. Robert Green Ingersoll believebookchildren
