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Believe Quote by Robert Green Ingersoll

“Where is the soul? . . . I refuse to believe anything of that kind without proof. The idea that, as soon as a man's breath leaves his body, the soul flops out like a chicken's head and flies off into space to find a lodgment where there [are] harps and haloes. Too much for me.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll
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“Where is the soul? . . . I refuse to believe anything of that kind without proof. The idea that, as soon as a man's breath leaves his body, the soul flops out like a chicken's head and flies off into space to find a lodgment where there [are] harps and haloes. Too much for me.”

Robert Green Ingersoll

About This Quote

Source Lecture: Secular philosophy talk, 1885

The soul's existence is doubted without empirical evidence; belief in it is seen as fanciful.

In simple terms: Soul is unproven, so belief is questionable.

Key Takeaway

Base beliefs on evidence.

Themes

skepticism philosophy existence

Mood

thoughtful skeptical

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • religious debate
  • personal identity
  • mortality

Key Concepts

materialism empiricism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What evidence would convince you?
  • Can morality exist without a soul?
A Different Perspective

Some argue personal experience validates the soul.

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