In all ages, hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns upon the heads of thieves, called kings. Robert Green Ingersoll More Quotes by Robert Green Ingersoll More Quotes From Robert Green Ingersoll They say: Belief is important. I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed. Robert Green Ingersoll importantdeedsjudging Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself. Robert Green Ingersoll respectrightsgiving Blasphemy is an epithet bestowed by superstition upon common sense. Robert Green Ingersoll epithetcommon-sensesuperstitions Blasphemy is what an old dogma screams at a new truth. Robert Green Ingersoll dogmaatheismdoubt When I became convinced that the universe is natural, that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood the sense, the feeling, the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell. The dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts and bars and manacles became dust. Robert Green Ingersoll walllightatheist If the Bible and my brain are both the work of the same infinite God, whose fault is it that the book and my brain do not agree? Robert Green Ingersoll faultsbrainbook What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man. Robert Green Ingersoll starsmotivationallove There will never be a generation of great men until there has been a generation of free women - of free mothers. Robert Green Ingersoll equalitymothermen Labor is the only prayer that Nature answers: It is the only prayer that deserves an answer—good, honest, noble work. Robert Green Ingersoll nobleprayeranswers Most men are followers, and implicitly rely upon the judgment of others. They mistake solemnity for wisdom, and regard a grave countenance as the title page and Preface to a most learned volume. So they are easily imposed upon by forms, strange garments, and solemn ceremonies. And when the teaching of parents, the customs of neighbors, and the general tongue approve and justify a belief or creed, no matter how absurd, it is hard even for the strongest to hold the citadel of his soul. In each country, in defence of each religion, the same arguments would be urged. Robert Green Ingersoll wisdommistakecountry A fact never went into partnership with a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of wonders. A fact will fit every other fact in the universe, and that is how you can tell whether it is or is not a fact. A lie will not fit anything except another lie. Robert Green Ingersoll miraclelyingfacts If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, after all, to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, the first advocate of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the first to whisper in human ears the sacred word liberty, the creator of ambition, the author of modesty, of inquiry, of doubt, of investigation, of progress and of civilization. Robert Green Ingersoll ignoranceambitioncivilization If abuses are destroyed, man must destroy them. If slaves are freed, man must free them. If new truths are discovered, man must discover them. If the naked are clothed; if the hungry are fed; if justice is done; if labor is rewarded; if superstition is driven from the mind; if the defenseless are protected, and if the right finally triumphs, all must be the work of man. The grand victories of the future must be won by man, and by man alone. Robert Green Ingersoll humanityjusticepeople I believe in the religion of reason -- the gospel of this world; in the development of the mind, in the accumulation of intellectual wealth, to the end that man may free himself from superstitious fear, to the end that he may take advantage of the forces of nature to feed and clothe the world. Robert Green Ingersoll menbelievethinking The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to himself and to his fellow-men. Robert Green Ingersoll freedomwisdommen Ignorance is the soil in which belief in miracles grows. Robert Green Ingersoll miracleignorancereligion Why should we postpone our joy to another world? Let us get all we can of the good between the cradle and the grave, all that we can of the truly dramatic. If, when death comes, that is the end, we have at least made the best of this life. Robert Green Ingersoll dramaticjoyworld In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences. Robert Green Ingersoll naturewisdominspiring Fear paints pictures of ghosts and hangs them in the gallery of ignorance. Robert Green Ingersoll ignoranceatheistreligion Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind? Robert Green Ingersoll superstitionsprogressworld
