Quotes from Robert G. Ingersoll

How fortunate it is for us all that it is somewhat unnatural for a human being to obey. Universal obedience is universal stagnation; disobedience is one of the conditions of progress.

Hope is the only universal liar who never loses his reputation for veracity.

When reading the history of the Jewish people, of their flight from slavery to death, of their exchange of tyrants, I must confess that my sympathies are all aroused in their behalf.

The idea that an infinite God, creator of all worlds, came to this grain of sand, learned the trade of a carpenter, discussed with Pharisees and scribes, and allowed a few infuriated Hebrews to put him to death that he might atone for the sins of men and redeem a few believers from the consequences of his own wrath, can find no lodgment in a good and natural brain.

Death is liberty, absolute and eternal.

Life is not the same to all—to some a blessing, to some a curse, to some not much in any way.

while life has but one entrance, it has exits innumerable, and as I choose the house in which I live, the ship in which I will sail, so will I choose the time and manner of my death.

The grave is better than the cell. Sleep is sweeter than the ache of toil. The dead have no masters.

What pleasure can it give God to see a man devoured by a cancer; to see the quivering flesh slowly eaten; to see the nerves throbbing with pain? Is this a festival for God?

but if there is the smallest seed of good in any human heart, let kindness fall upon it until it grows, and in that way I know, and so do you, that the world will get better and better day by day.

Inspiration is only necessary to give authority to that which is repugnant to human reason.

A religion that does not command the respect of the greatest minds will, in a little while, excite the mockery of all.

That he attacked the religion of his time because it was cruel. That this excited the hatred of those in power, and that Christ was arrested, tried and crucified. For many centuries this great Peasant of Palestine has been worshiped as God.

All this is true, and if it were all, how beautiful, how touching, how glorious it would be. But it is not all. There is another side.

the Bible is a book written by ignorance—at the instigation of fear.

It is in the very nature of things that torments inflicted have no tendency to bring a wicked man to repentance. Then why torment him if it will not do him good? It is simply unadulterated revenge. All the punishment in the world will not reform a man, unless he knows that he who inflicts it upon him does it for the sake of reformation, and really and truly loves him, and has his good at heart.

It is impossible for me to see' why any belief in the supernatural is necessary to have a keen perception of right and wrong.

Fear is the father of lies.

Subjects who are governed by the threats and promises of a king are merely slaves. They are not governed by the ideal, by noble views of right and wrong. They are obedient cowards, controlled by fear, or beggars governed by rewards—by alms.

The doctrines of total depravity and endless punishment were born of bad cooking and dyspepsia.

For my part, I am willing to give up heaven to get rid of hell. I had rather there should be no heaven than that any solitary soul should be condemned to suffer for ever and ever.

We rise by raising others

man has the right to stop the pulse of pain and woo the sleep that has no dream.

Let us remember that all actions, good, bad and indifferent, are the necessary children of conditions—that there is no chance in the natural world in which we live.