--- title: "5 Inspired Quotes By Robert G. Ingersoll" description: "5 Inspired quotes by Robert G. Ingersoll. Plus more from Robert G. Ingersoll and more Inspired sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_bible_if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civili_417111.jpg" --- > [“If the Pentateuch is inspired, the civilization of of our day is a mistake and crime. There should be no political liberty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civilization-of-of-our-day-is-a/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c1/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_bible_if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civili_417111.jpg) > [“If the Pentateuch be true, religious persecution is a duty. The dungeons of the Inquisition were temples, and the clank of every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-persecution-is-a-duty-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_angels_if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-pers_556618.jpg) > [“Remembering that only a few years ago men, women, and even children, were imprisoned, tortured and burned, for having expressed in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/remembering-that-only-a-few-years-ago-men-women-and-even-children/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_abuse_remembering-that-only-a-few-years-ago-me_1084269.jpg) > [“If the Pentateuch is not inspired in its astronomy, geology, geography, history or philosophy, if it is not inspired concerning slavery, polygamy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its-astronomy-geology-geography/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_astronomy_if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its_2051085.jpg) > [“For many years I have regarded the Pentateuch simply as a record of a barbarous people, in which are found a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/for-many-years-i-have-regarded-the-pentateuch-simply-as-a-record-of-a/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_atheism_for-many-years-i-have-regarded-the-penta_3145005.jpg) ## Other authors on Inspired ## More by 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 service. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/so-i-think-that-when-we-become-civilized-great-corporations-will-make/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 love liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/with-every-drop-of-my-blood-i-hate-and-execrate-every-form-of-tyranny/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did not touch the floor, about the final home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-have-heard-them-preach-when-i-sat-in-the-pew-and-my-feet-did-not/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/when-you-go-home-you-ought-to-go-like-a-ray-of-light-so-that-it-will/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Notwithstanding the fact that infidels in all ages have battled for the rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless advocates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/notwithstanding-the-fact-that-infidels-in-all-ages-have-battled-for/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/jonathan-edwards-the-dear-old-soul-who-if-his-doctrine-is-true-is-now/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [ “He \[Alexander von Humboldt\] was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/he-alexander-von-humboldt-was-to-science-what-shakespeare-was-to-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“From my childhood I had heard read, and read the Bible myself. Morning and evening the sacred volume was opened and prayers were said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/from-my-childhood-i-had-heard-read-and-read-the-bible-myself-morning/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal joy, next to being forever with those we love and those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/suppose-after-all-that-death-does-end-all-next-to-eternal-joy-next-to/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 sweet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/strike-with-hand-of-fire-o-weird-musician-thy-harp-strung-with-apollo/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/the-doctrine-that-future-happiness-depends-upon-belief-is-monstrous/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“The liberty of man is not safe in the hands of any church. Wherever the Bible and sword are in partnership, man is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/the-liberty-of-man-is-not-safe-in-the-hands-of-any-church-wherever/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“I do not see how it is possible for a man to die worth fifty million of dollars, or ten million of dollars, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-a-man-to-die-worth-fifty-million/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Christians must show that misery fits the good for heaven, while happiness prepares the bad for hell; that the wicked get all their good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/christians-must-show-that-misery-fits-the-good-for-heaven-while/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“If the Pentateuch is inspired, the civilization of of our day is a mistake and crime. There should be no political liberty. Heresy should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civilization-of-of-our-day-is-a/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/robert-g-ingersoll/#itemlist", "name": "5 Inspired Quotes By Robert G. 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The dungeons of the Inquisition were temples, and the clank of every chain upon the limbs of heresy was music in the ear of God. If the Pentateuch was inspired, every heretic should be destroyed; and every man who advocates a fact inconsistent with the sacred book, should be consumed by sword and flame. In the Old Testament no one is told to reason with a heretic, and not one word is said about relying upon argument, upon education, nor upon intellectual development—nothing except simple brute force. Is there to-day a christian who will say that four thousand years ago, it was the duty of a husband to kill his wife if she differed with him upon the subject of religion? Is there one who will now say that, under such circumstances, the wife ought to have been killed? Why should God be so jealous of the wooden idols of the heathen? Could he not compete with Baal? Was he envious of the success of the Egyptian magicians? Was it not possible for him to make such a convincing display of his power as to silence forever the voice of unbelief? Did this God have to resort to force to make converts? Was he so ignorant of the structure of the human mind as to believe all honest doubt a crime? If he wished to do away with the idolatry of the Canaanites, why did he not appear to them? Why did he not give them the tables of the law? Why did he only make known his will to a few wandering savages in the desert of Sinai? Will some theologian have the kindness to answer these questions? Will some minister, who now believes in religious liberty, and eloquently denounces the intolerance of Catholicism, explain these things; will he tell us why he worships an intolerant God? Is a god who will burn a soul forever in another world, better than a christian who burns the body for a few hours in this? Is there no intellectual liberty in heaven? Do the angels all discuss questions on the same side? Are all the investigators in perdition? Will the penitent thief, winged and crowned, laugh at the honest folks in hell? Will the agony of the damned increase or decrease the happiness of God? Will there be, in the universe, an eternal auto da fe?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert G. Ingersoll" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-persecution-is-a-duty-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_angels_if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-pers_556618.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_angels_if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-pers_556618.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/143/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_angels_if-the-pentateuch-be-true-religious-pers_556618.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the Pentateuch be true, religious persecution is a duty. The dungeons of the Inquisition were temples…” — Robert G. Ingersoll", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Remembering that only a few years ago men, women, and even children, were imprisoned, tortured and burned, for having expressed in an exceedingly mild and gentle way, the ideas entertained by me, I congratulate myself that calumny is now the pulpit's last resort. The old instruments of torture are kept only to gratify curiosity; the chains are rusting away, and the demolition of time has allowed even the dungeons of the Inquisition to be visited by light. The church, impotent and malicious, regrets, not the abuse, but the loss of her power, and seeks to hold by falsehood what she gained by cruelty and force, by fire and fear. Christianity cannot live in peace with any other form of faith. If that religion be true, there is but one savior, one inspired book, and but one little narrow grass-grown path that leads to heaven. Such a religion is necessarily uncompromising, unreasoning, aggressive and insolent. Christianity has held all other creeds and forms in infinite contempt, divided the world into enemies and friends, and verified the awful declaration of its founder—a declaration that wet with blood the sword he came to bring, and made the horizon of a thousand years lurid with the fagots' flames.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert G. 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Ingersoll", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If the Pentateuch is not inspired in its astronomy, geology, geography, history or philosophy, if it is not inspired concerning slavery, polygamy, war, law, religious or political liberty, or the rights of men, women and children, what is it inspired in, or about? The unity of God?—that was believed long before Moses was born. Special providence?—that has been the doctrine of ignorance in all ages. The rights of property?—theft was always a crime. The sacrifice of animals?—that was a custom thousands of years before a Jew existed. The sacredness of life?—there have always been laws against murder. The wickedness of perjury?—truthfulness has always been a virtue. The beauty of chastity?—the Pentateuch does not teach it. Thou shalt worship no other God?—that has been the burden of all religions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert G. Ingersoll" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its-astronomy-geology-geography/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_astronomy_if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its_2051085.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_astronomy_if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its_2051085.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf3/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_astronomy_if-the-pentateuch-is-not-inspired-in-its_2051085.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the Pentateuch is not inspired in its astronomy, geology, geography, history or philosophy, if it is not…” — Robert G. Ingersoll", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For many years I have regarded the Pentateuch simply as a record of a barbarous people, in which are found a great number of the ceremonies of savagery, many absurd and unjust laws, and thousands of ideas inconsistent with known and demonstrated facts. To me it seemed almost a crime to teach that this record was written by inspired men; that slavery, polygamy, wars of conquest and extermination were right, and that there was a time when men could win the approbation of infinite Intelligence, Justice, and Mercy, by violating maidens and by butchering babes.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert G. 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