Quotes: Words Of The Famous & Infamous
Interesting Quotes
On this page you will find quotes from various authors, speech-writers, historical figures and comedians I found interesting.
So what is the point of adding such a page to my web site? First of all, I have quotes from America’s founding fathers and national documents. These are provided to prove that the United States was intended to be a nation of freedon, not a Christian nation. These quotes are not meant to prove that all the founding fathers were atheists, but they do prove that they were not all Christian and that they were certainly not Christian Fundamentalist by any stretch of the imagination.
Further down the page you will find quotes from famous atheists, freethinkers, comedians and even a few people who were religious. Some are profound, some insightful, some ironic and some funny. I hope you enjoy them.
Whenever possible I tried to find out where the quote comes from and document that with the quote. If you find a quote that is in error or know a source I do not know then feel free to contact me at my email address feedback@unfundy.com.
United States Government Documents
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The First Ammendment to the United States Constitution.
“The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” The Treaty of Tripoli (June 7, 1797). Article 11
American Founding Fathers
John Adams
“Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, ‘this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.’” From a letter to Charles Cushing (October 19, 1756)
“I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved — the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!” From a letter to Thomas Jefferson
“Where do we find a precept in the Bible for Creeds, Confessions, Doctrines and Oaths, and whole carloads of trumpery that we find religion encumbered with in these days?”
“The Doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity.”
“…Thirteen governments [of the original states] thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favor of the rights of mankind.”
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials, December 1770
Thomas Jefferson
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.” Jefferson’s interpretation of the first amendment in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association (January 1, 1802)
“…an amendment was proposed by inserting the words, ‘Jesus Christ… the holy author of our religion,’ which was rejected ‘By a great majority in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindoo and the Infidel of every denomination.’” Jefferson’s biography
“Our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, more than on our opinions in physics and geometry… The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Jefferson’s “The Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom”
“The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.” Jefferson’s Bible
“Reason and persuasion are the only practicable instruments. To make way for these free inquiry must be indulged; how can we wish others to indulge it while we refuse ourselves? But every state, says an inquisitor, has established some religion. No two, say I, have established the same. Is this a proof of the infallibility of establishments?” Jefferson’s Notes on Virginia
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.”
“They [the clergy] believe that any portion of power confided to me, will be exerted in opposition of their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the alter of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
“I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half of the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth.”
“In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to liberty; he is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.”
“Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear…Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences. If it end in a belief that there is no God, you will find incitements to virtue on the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise and in the love of others which it will procure for you.”
“Christianity… [has become] the most perverted system that ever shone on man… Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus.”
“…that our civil rights have no dependence on religious opinions, any more than our opinions in physics and geometry.”
“Question with boldness even the existence of a God, because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.”
“Religions are all alike — founded upon fables and mythologies.”
James Madison
“Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise… During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.” Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments
“Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”
“In no instance have the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.”
Benjamin Franklin
“My parents had given me betimes religious impressions, and I received from my infancy a pious education in the principles of Calvinism. But scarcely was I arrived at fifteen years of age, when, after having doubted in turn of different tenets, according as I found them combated in the different books that I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself.” Franklin's autobiography, p. 66
“…Some books against Deism fell into my hands… It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quote to be refuted, appeared to me much citeer than the refutations, in short, I soon became a thorough Deist.” Franklin’s autobiography, p. 66
“Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.”
“The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”
Thomas Paine
“I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of… Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and of my own part, I disbelieve them all.” The Age of Reason
“All natural institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” The Age of Reason
“The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called revelation, or revealed religion.” The Age of Reason
“What is it the Bible teaches us? — rapine, cruelty, and murder.” The Age of Reason
“Loving of enemies is another dogma of feigned morality, and has beside no meaning… Those who preach the doctrine of loving their enemies are in general the greatest prosecutors, and they act consistently by so doing; for the doctrine is hypocritical, and it is natural that hypocrisy should act the reverse of what it preaches.” The Age of Reason
“The Bible was established altogether by the sword, and that in the worst use of it — not to terrify but to extirpate.” The Age of Reason
“It is the duty of every true Deist to vindicate the moral justice of God against the evils of the Bible.”
Ethan Allen
“Denominated a Deist, the reality of which I have never disputed, being conscious that I am no Christian.” Religion of the American Enlightenment
Abraham Lincoln
“The Bible is not my book, and Christianity is not my religion. I could never assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma.”
“It will not do to investigate the subject of religion too closely, as it is apt to lead to Infidelity.”
“My earlier views on the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation have become clearer and citeer with advancing years.”
Atheists and Freethinkers
“What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.” Christopher Hitchens
“Where we have strong emotions, we’re liable to fool ourselves.” Carl Sagan
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” Carl Sagan“It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English — up to fifty words used in correct context — no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese.” Carl Sagan
“I’m a born-again atheist.” Gore Vidal
“If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.” Bertrand Russell
“Irrationally held truths may be more harmful than reasoned errors.” Thomas H. Huxley
“Religion is considered by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.” Seneca
“The sermon was based on what he claimed was a well-known fact, that there were no Atheists in foxholes. I asked Jack what he thought of the sermon afterwards, and he said, ‘There’s a Chaplain who never visited the front.’” Kurt Vonnegut
“In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and is widely regarded as a bad move.” Douglas Adams - Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
“I’d take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.” Douglas Adams
“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” Douglas Adams
“The great thing about being the only species that makes a distinction between right and wrong is that we can make up the rules for ourselves as we go along.” Douglas Adams
“The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.” AA Milne
“There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.” Victor Hugo
“There is no sin except stupidity” Oscar Wilde
“With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” Steven Weinberg
“You can fool too many of the people too much of the time.” James Thurber
“Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.” James F. Byrnes
“The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one” George Bernard Shaw
“He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that dares not reason is a slave.” William Drummond
“Those who believe absurdities will commit atrocities” Voltaire
“The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they’ve found it.” Terry Pratchett
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana
“I do not believe in God because I do not believe in Mother Goose.” Clarence Darrow
“In spite of all the yearnings of men, no one can produce a single fact or reason to support the belief in God and in personal immortality.” Clarence Darrow
“Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt.” Clarence Darrow
“The world is made up for the most part of morons and natural tyrants, sure of themselves, strong in their own opinions, never doubting anything.” Clarence Darrow
“Some of you say religion makes people happy. So does laughing gas.” Clarence Darrow
“The origin of the absurd idea of immortal life is easy to discover; it is kept alive by hope and fear, by childish faith, and by cowardice.” Clarence Darrow
“Sacred cows make the best hamburger.” Mark Twain
“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” Mark Twain
“I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell — you see, I have friends in both places.” Mark Twain
“It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” Mark Twain
“Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about.” Mark Twain
“The Christian’s Bible is a drug store. Its contents remain the same, but the medical practice changes.” Mark Twain
“When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.” Mark Twain
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” Mark Twain
“Life is what happens while you are making other plans.” John Lennon
Comedians
“I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up — they have no holidays.” Henny Youngman
“Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering — and it’s all over much too soon.” Woody Allen
“If we ever pass out as a great nation we ought to put on our tombstone, ‘America died from a delusion that she has moral leadership.’” Will Rogers
“Atheism is a non-prophet organization.” George Carlin
“By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.” George Carlin
“I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don’t have as many people who believe it.” George Carlin
“I think everyone should treat one another in a Christian manner. I will not, however, be responsible for the consequences.” George Carlin
“Religion has convinced people that there’s an invisible man… living in the sky, who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn’t want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer and burn and scream until the end of time… But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money.” George Carlin
“The only good thing to come out of religion is the music.” George Carlin
“Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself.” George Carlin
“What year did Jesus think it was?” George Carlin
“Why do they call it ‘common sense’ when it’s so rare?” George Carlin
Others
“Anyone can be an atheist — God willing.” Leonid S. Sukhorukov
“Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything.” Frank Dane
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.” Upton Sinclair
“The best argument against democracy is a five minute chat with the average voter.” Sir Winston Churchill
“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.” Sir Winston Churchill
“The best way to keep one’s word is not to give it.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.” Robert Jackson
“Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions.” Blaise Pascal
“I have observed that the world has suffered far less from ignorance than from pretensions to knowledge. It is not skeptics or explorers but fanatics and ideologues who menace decency and progress.” Daniel Boorstin
“I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education.” Wilson Mizner
“No matter how great the facts, popular opinion will always dictate truth.” Joseph Howell
“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” Philip K. Dick