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Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes - Page 17

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With their backs to the sunrise they worship the night.

With their backs to the sunrise they worship the night.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Night, Sunrise, Worship
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.113, Library of Alexandria

I believe that there is something far nobler than loyalty to any particular man. Loyalty to the truth as we perceive it - loyalty to our duty as we know it - loyalty to the ideals of our brain and heart - is, to my mind, far greater and far nobler than loyalty to the life of any particular man or God. . . .

Robert Green Ingersoll
Life, Loyalty, Believe
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2019, Library of Alexandria

Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Music, Piano, Feelings
Robert Green Ingersoll (1909). “Miscellany”

the inventor of the plow did more good than the maker of the first rosary - because, say what you will, plowing is better than praying.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Rosary, Plowing, Firsts
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1313, Library of Alexandria

I am anxious to give away information, for it is only by giving it away that you can keep it. When you have told it, you remember it. It is with information as it is with liberty, the only way to be dead sure of it is to give it to other people.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Life, People, Giving
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The Works of Robert G.Ingersoll. [Dresden Ed.]”

Epithets are not arguments. Abuse does not persuade.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Abuse, Doe, Argument

Our civilization is not Christian. It does not come from the skies. It is not a result of inspiration. It is the child of invention, of discovery, of applied knowledge - that is to say, of science. When man becomes great and grand enough to admit that all have equal rights; when thought is untrammeled; when worship shall consist in doing useful things; when religion means the discharge of obligations to our fellow-men, then, and not until then, will the world be civilized.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Christian, Children, Inspiration
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2145, Library of Alexandria

Years should not be devoted to the acquisition of dead languages or to the study of history which, for the most part, is a detailed account of things that never occurred. It is useless to fill the individual with dates of great battles, with the births and deaths of kings. They should be taught the philosophy of history, the growth of nations, of philosophies, theories, and, above all, of the sciences.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Kings, Philosophy, Years

Twenty years after the death of Luther there were more Catholics than when he was born. And twenty years after the death of Voltaire there were millions less than when he was born.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Years, Catholic, Atheism
Robert Green Ingersoll (1909). “The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll”

There is no necessity for going to the church and hearing the same story forever. Let the minister write what he wishes to say. Let him publish it. If it is worth buying, people will read it. It is hardly fair to get them in a church in the name of duty and there inflict upon them a sermon that under no circumstances they would read...the idea of going fifty-two days in a year to hear anybody on the same subject is absurd.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Writing, Years, Names

It cannot be too often repeated, that truth scorns the assistance of miracle.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Truth, Miracle, Scorn
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1688, Library of Alexandria

The destroyer of weeds, thistles, and thorns is a benefactor whether he soweth grain or not.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Weed, Making A Difference, Thorns
Robert Green Ingersoll (1912). “Some Mistakes of Moses”, p.1, Library of Alexandria

Every flower about a house certifies to the refinement of somebody. Every vine climbing and blossoming tells of love and joy

Robert Green Ingersoll
Flower, Climbing, House
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.244, Library of Alexandria

The most important thing in this world is liberty. More important than food or clothes - more important than gold or houses or lands - more important than art or science - more important than all religions, is the liberty of man.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Art, Men, Clothes
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.3989, Library of Alexandria

Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were committed to prevent crimes. The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains and whips, with crosses and gibbets, with thumbscrews and racks, with hangmen and heads-men — and yet these frightful means and instrumentalities have committed far more crimes than they have prevented.... Ignorance, filth, and poverty are the missionaries of crime. As long as dishonorable success outranks honest effort — as long as society bows and cringes before the great thieves, there will be little ones enough to fill the jails.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Ignorance, Mean, Men

Don't you know that if people could bottle the air they would? Don't you know that there would be an American Air-bottling Association? And don't you know that they would allow thousands and millions to die for want of breath, if they could not pay for air? I am not blaming anybody. I am just telling how it is.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Air, People, Association
Robert Green Ingersoll (1900). “The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll: Lectures”

The record of a generous life runs like a vine around the memory of our dead, and every sweet unselfish act is now a perfumed flower.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Running, Sweet, Memories
Robert Green Ingersoll (1912). “Some Mistakes of Moses”, p.245, Library of Alexandria

Love your friends and be just to your enemies.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Love You, Enemy
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The Works of Robert G.Ingersoll. [Dresden Ed.]”

If the money is raised by taxation, then the burden will fall where it ought to fall, . . . and the rich and stingy will no longer be able to evade the duties of citizenship and of humanity.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Fall, Political, Humanity
Robert Green Ingersoll (1909). “The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll”

He raised his hands, not to strike, but in benediction. Lincoln was the grandest figure of the fiercest civil war. He is the gentlest memory of our world.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Memories, War, Our World
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.680, Library of Alexandria

When a fact can be demonstrated, force is unnecessary; when it cannot be demonstrated, force is infamous.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Facts, Unnecessary, Infamous
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.101, Library of Alexandria

Let us put theology out of religion. Theology has always sent the worst to heaven, the best to hell.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Heaven, Religion, Hell

Wait until the world is free before you write a creed. In this creed there will be but one word -- Liberty.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Writing, Waiting, Liberty
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.224, Library of Alexandria

Lincoln was not a type. He stands alone - no ancestors, no fellows, no successors.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Stand Alone, Presidents Day, Type
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.675, Library of Alexandria

I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a famine!

Robert Green Ingersoll
Atheism, Pestilence, Imagine
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.282, Library of Alexandria

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