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Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes - Page 10

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If a man would follow, today, the teachings of the Old Testament, he would be a criminal. If he would follow strictly the teachings of the New, he would be insane.

If a man would follow, today, the teachings of the Old Testament, he would be a criminal. If he would follow strictly the teachings of the New, he would be insane.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Bible, Atheist, Teaching
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1279, Library of Alexandria

To avoid pain we must know the conditions of health. For the accomplishment of this end we must rely upon investigation instead of faith, upon labor in place of prayer. Most misery is produced by ignorance. Passions sow the seeds of pain.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Prayer, Pain, Passion
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2155, Library of Alexandria

Intellectual liberty [is] the right to think right and the right to think wrong. Thought is the means by which we endeavor to arrive at truth.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Mean, Thinking, Intellectual
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.198, Library of Alexandria

Infidels in all ages have battled for the rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless advocates of liberty and justice.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Rights, Justice
Robert Green Ingersoll (1873). “An Oration on the Gods”, p.48

You cannot show real respect to your parents by perpetuating their errors.... Do you consider that the inventor of a steel plow cast a slur upon his father who scratched the ground with a wooden one? I do not consider that an invention by the son is a slander upon the father; I regard each invention simply as an improvement; and every father should be exceedingly proud of an ingenious son. If Mr. Talmage has a son, it will be impossible for him to honor his father except by differing with him.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Real, Father, Son
Joseph Lewis, Robert Green Ingersoll (1957). “Ingersoll the Magnificent: To which Has Been Added a Special Arrangement of Some Gems from Ingersoll for Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage”

Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and depth; that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Wall, Knowing, Depth
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.117, Library of Alexandria

He [The Improved Man] will enjoy not only the sunshine of life, but will bear with fortitude the darkest days. He will have no fear of death. About the grave, there will be no terrors, and his life will end as serenely as the sun rises.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Death, Sunshine, Men
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.4287, Library of Alexandria

Martyrdom, as a rule, establishes the sincerity of the martyr, never the correctness of his thought. Things are true or false in themselves.

Robert Green Ingersoll
True Or False, Sincerity, Martyr
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.774, Library of Alexandria

The first step is for man to cease to be the slave of man. The second, is to cease to be the slave of the monsters of his own creation, the ghosts and phantoms of the air.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Air, Religion
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.171, Library of Alexandria

Now the struggle for life is so sharp, competition is so severe, that few men can succeed who carry a useless burden. The businessmen of our country are compelled to lead temperate lives, otherwise their credit is gone.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Country, Struggle, Men

Love is the only bow on Life's dark cloud. It is the Morning and the Evening Star. It shines upon the cradle of the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of Art—inspirer of poet, patriot, and philosopher. It is the air and light of every heart— builder of every home—kindler of every fire on every hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with melody, for Music is the voice of Love.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Love, Mother, Dream
"Lectures and Essays (a Selection)".

If we are immortal, it is a fact of nature, and that fact does not depend on bibles, on Christs, priest, or creeds.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Doe, Facts, Christ
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1061, Library of Alexandria

Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Inspirational, Adversity, Men
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.680, Library of Alexandria

The first duty of man is to support himself - to see to it that he does not become a burden. His next duty is to help others if he has a surplus, and if he really believes they deserve to be helped.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Money, Believe, Helping Others
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.4246, Library of Alexandria

Secularism is a religion, a religion that is understood. It has no mysteries, no mumblings, no priests, no ceremonies, no falsehoods, no miracles, and no persecutions.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Miracle, Mystery, Priests

Justice should remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Eye, Justice For All, Long
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.4411, Library of Alexandria

Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will not investigate, and if you think it wrong, the church will investigate you.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Thinking, Atheism, Church
Robert Green Ingersoll (1874). “The Gods, and Other Lectures”, p.183

They who stand with breaking hearts around this little grave, need have no fear. The larger and the nobler faith in all that is, and is to be, tells us that death, even at its worst, is only perfect rest ... The dead do not suffer.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Heart, Perfect, Suffering
Robert Green Ingersoll (1883). “Popular edition of col. Ingersoll's lectures. (Freethought publ. co.'s ed.).”

Prayer is of no avail. The lightning falls on the just and the unjust in accordance with natural laws.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Prayer, Fall, Law

I have no confidence in any religion that can be demonstrated only to children.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Children, No Confidence
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2447, Library of Alexandria

Truth is the mother of joy. Truth civilizes, ennobles and purifies. The grandest ambition that can enter the soul is to know the truth.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Mother, Truth, Ambition
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.932, Library of Alexandria

Orthodoxy cannot afford to put out the fires of hell.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Fire, Orthodoxy, Hell
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.516, Library of Alexandria

If the world ever advances beyond what it is today, it must be led by men who express their real opinions.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Real, Men, World
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.759, Library of Alexandria

Courage without conscience is a wild beast.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Courage, Integrity, Beast
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The Works of Robert G.Ingersoll. [Dresden Ed.]”

It is told that the great Angelo, in decorating a church, painted some angels wearing sandals. A cardinal looking at the picture said to the artist: Whoever saw angels with sandals? Angelo answered with another question: Whoever saw an angel barefooted?

Robert Green Ingersoll
Angel, Artist, Atheism
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1076, Library of Alexandria

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