Robert G. Ingersoll

“The religionist is a living fossil, embedded in that rock called faith.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“He [Alexander von Humboldt] was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“There is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“In all ages hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns on the heads of thieves, called kings.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now living.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“This is my doctrine: Give every other human being every right you claim for yourself.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Theology is a superstition—Humanity a religion.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“When you go home you ought to go like a ray of light—so that it will, even in the night, burst out…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“With every drop of my blood I hate and execrate every form of tyranny, every form of slavery. I hate dictation. I…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Happiness is the only good, reason the only torch, justice the only worship, humanity the only religion, and love the only priest.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“I believe in the fireside. I believe in the democracy of home. I believe in the republicanism of the family. I believe…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Every man should stand under the blue and stars, under the infinite flag of nature, the peer of every other man.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“I never will, I never can, worship a God who upholds the institution of slavery. Such a God I hate and defy.…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Not one of the learned gentlemen who pretend that the Mosaic laws are filled with justice and intelligence, would live, for a…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Whoever claims any right that he is unwilling to accord to his fellow-men is dishonest and infamous.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“The sciences are not sectarian. People do not persecute each other on account of disagreements in mathematics. Families are not divided about…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Is it necessary that Heaven should borrow its light from the glare of Hell? Infinite punishment is infinite cruelty, endless injustice, immortal…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“My dog," he said, "just barks and plays -has all he wants to eat. He never works- has no trouble about business.…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Nearly all people stand in great horror of annihilation, and yet to give up your individuality is to annihilate yourself. Mental slavery…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“The tenement house is the enemy of modesty, the enemy of virtue, the enemy of patriotism. Home is where the virtues grow.…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“I regard the Bible, especially the Old Testament, the same as I do most other ancient books, in which there is some…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“In judging of the rich, two things should be considered: How did they get it, and what are they doing with it?…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“The telescope destroyed the firmament, did away with the heaven of the New Testament, rendered the ascension of our Lord and the…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Upon the shadowy shore of death the sea of trouble casts no wave. Eyes that have been curtained by the everlasting dark,…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“In my judgment, the woman is the equal of the man. She has all the rights I have and one more, and…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“So, I think that when we become civilized, great corporations will make provision for men who have given their lives to their…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Belief is not subject to the will. Men think as they must. Children do not, and cannot, believe exactly as they were…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Strike, with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Is it a small thing to quench the flames of hell with the holy tears of pity -- to unbind the martyr…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Suppose it should turn out that no such person as Christ ever lived. What harm would that do justice or mercy? Wouldn't…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“There has never been upon the earth a generation of free men and women. It is not yet time to write a…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Of course the theologians fought the facts found by the geologists, the scientists, and sought to sustain the sacred Scriptures. They mistook…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Is it necessary that Heaven should borrow its light from the glare of Hell? Infinite punishment is infinite cruelty, endless injustice, immortal…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“When I became convinced that the Universe is natural – that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“We have already compared the benefits of theology and science. When the theologian governed the world, it was covered with huts and…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“I compared what was really known about the stars with the account of creation as told in Genesis. I found that the…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“For the first time I understood the dogma of eternal pain -- appreciated "the glad tidings of great joy." For the first…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Compare King William with the philosopher Haeckel. The king is one of the anointed by the most high, as they claim—one upon…

— Robert G. Ingersoll

“Until every soul is freely permitted to investigate every book, and creed, and dogma for itself, the world cannot be free. Mankind…

— Robert G. Ingersoll