Belief Quote by Robert G. Ingersoll
““I want to do what little I can to make my country truly free, to broaden the intellectual horizon of our people, to destroy the prejudices born of ignorance and fear, to do away with the blind worship of the ignoble past, with the idea that all the great and good are dead, that the living are totally depraved, that all pleasures are sins, that sighs and groans are alone pleasing to God, that thought is dangerous, that intellectual courage is a crime, that cowardice is a virtue, that a certain belief is necessary to secure salvation, that to carry a cross in this world will give us a palm in the next, and that we must allow some priest to be the pilot of our souls.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Lecture, 1885, United States
Advocates for intellectual freedom, rejecting dogma, fear, and blind tradition to achieve true liberty and progress.
In simple terms: Promote free thought and reject oppressive beliefs.
Key Takeaway
Challenge oppressive doctrines, embrace reason.
Themes
freedom
intellectualism
secularism
humanism
critical thinking
Mood
hopeful
defiant
inspirational
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- education reform
- political activism
- secular policy
- cultural change
Key Concepts
Enlightenment
rationalism
moral autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance tradition with progress?
- What role does education play in dismantling prejudice?
A Different Perspective
Blind faith can persist despite rational arguments.
![“[Intellectual courage is] the quality that allows one to believe in one's judgement in the face of disappointment and widespread skepticism. Intellectual courage is even rarer than physical courage.” quote by John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/969/john-charles-polanyi-14475_believe_intellectual-courage-is-the-quality-that_291394.jpg)
![“He [Alexander von Humboldt] was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama.” quote by Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fb5/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_admiration_he-alexander-von-humboldt-was-to-science_233200.jpg)
