Agnostic Quote by Madalyn Murray O'Hair
“If a humanist or an atheist or an agnostic says, "We'll bake you a pie," we can go right into the kitchen and bake it, and you can eat it an hour later. We don't promise you a pie in the sky by and by. It's charlatanry to promise people something that no one can be sure will ever be delivered. But it's even worse to offer people a reward, like children, for being good, and to threaten them with punishment if they're not.”
About This Quote
Critiques promises of unearned rewards and threats, urging tangible, verifiable outcomes over abstract assurances.
In simple terms: Warns against empty promises and coercive incentives.
Key Takeaway
Prefer concrete results over speculative rewards.
Themes
skepticism
ethics
humanism
motivation
reward systems
Mood
critical
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
aphorism
philosophical statement
When to use this quote
- educational policy
- parenting
- religious persuasion
- political rhetoric
Key Concepts
promise vs. delivery
intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation
Practical Applications
- designing incentive structures
- evaluating policy promises
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of relying on intangible promises?
- How can we ensure accountability in reward systems?
![“Being an atheist makes someone a clearer thinking, fairer person. They [atheists] are not doing things to be rewarded in heaven; they're doing things because they're right, because they live by a moral code.” quote by Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/438/ricky-gervais-851_atheist_being-an-atheist-makes-someone-a-clearer_3065684.jpg)
