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Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes - Page 3

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Mental slavery is mental death, and every man who has given up his intellectual freedom is the living coffin of his dead soul.

Mental slavery is mental death, and every man who has given up his intellectual freedom is the living coffin of his dead soul.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Soul, Intellectual
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.103, Library of Alexandria

The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to himself and to his fellow-men.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Wisdom, Freedom, Men
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.186, Library of Alexandria

This, in my judgment, is the highest philosophy: First, do not regret having lost yesterday; second, do not fear that you will lose tomorrow; third, enjoy today.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Attitude, Regret, Philosophy

Every pulpit is a pillory, in which stands a hired culprit, defending the justice of his own imprisonment.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Justice, Atheism, Culprit
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.103, Library of Alexandria

Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?

Robert Green Ingersoll
Progress, World, Superstitions
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.310, Library of Alexandria

You cannot be so poor that you cannot help somebody.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Helping, Poor, Helpfulness
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.207, Library of Alexandria

The church teaches us that we can make God happy by being miserable ourselves.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Church, Miserable, Teach
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.274, Library of Alexandria

I am a believer in liberty . That is my religion to give to every other human being every right that I claim for myself, and I grant to every other human being, not the right because it is his right but instead of granting I declare that it is his right, to attack every doctrine that I maintain, to answer every argument that I may urge in other words, he must have absolute freedom of speech.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Giving, Freedom Of Speech, Liberty
Robert Green Ingersoll (1902). “Miscellany”

The more false we destroy, the more room there will be for the true.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Rooms
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.475, Library of Alexandria

There is something wrong in a government where they who do the most have the least. There is something wrong when honesty wears a rag, and rascality a robe; when the loving, the tender, east a crust, while the infamous sit at banquets.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Honesty, Equality, Government
Robert Green Ingersoll, Herman E. Kittredge (1909). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”

Colleges are places where pebbles are polished and diamonds are dimmed.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Education, College, Pebbles
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.676, Library of Alexandria

What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Love, Motivational, Stars
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.3125, Library of Alexandria

Would God give a bird wings and make it a crime to fly? Would he give me brains and make it a crime to think? Any God that would damn one of his children for the expression of his honest thought wouldn't make a decent thief. When I read a book and don't believe it, I ought to say so. I will do so and take the consequences like a man.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Children, Believe, Book
Robert Green Ingersoll (1898). “Lectures of Col. R.G. Ingersoll: Including His Letters on the Chinese God--Is Suicide a Sin?--The Right to One's Life--etc. Etc. Etc”

Instead of loving a God, we love each other. Instead of the religion of the sky-the religion of this world-the religion of the family-the love of husband for wife, of wife for husband-the love of all for children. So that now the real religion is: Let us live for each other; let us live for this world without regard for the past and without fear for the future. Let us use our faculties and our powers for the benefit of ourselves and others, knowing that if there be another world, the same philosophy that gives us joy here will make us happy there.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Love, Children, Husband
Robert Green Ingersoll (1920). “Ingersoll: Fifty Great Selections, Lectures, Tributes, After Dinner Speeches and Essays, Carefully Selected from the Twelve Volume Dresden Edition of Colonel Ingersoll's Complete Works”

As a man develops, he places a greater value upon his own rights. Liberty becomes a grander and diviner thing. As he values his own rights he begins to value the rights of others. And when all men give to all others all the rights they claim for themselves, this world will be civilized.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Rights, Giving
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.196, Library of Alexandria

It is an old habit with theologians to beat the living with the bones of the dead.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Old Habits, Bones, Beats
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2025, Library of Alexandria

Strange but true: those who have loved God most have loved men least.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Atheism, Strange

It is a blessed thing that in every age some one has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Birthday, Courage, Blessed
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.98, Library of Alexandria

Is there an intelligent man or woman now in the world who believes in the Garden of Eden story? If you find any man who believes it, strike his forehead and you will hear an echo. Something is for rent.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Believe, Men, Garden
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”

Labor is the only prayer that Nature answers: It is the only prayer that deserves an answer—good, honest, noble work.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Prayer, Noble, Answers
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.4036, Library of Alexandria

As we become civilized we are governed less by persons and more by principles. . . . The best of all leaders is the man who teaches people to lead themselves.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Leadership, Men, People
Robert Green Ingersoll, Herman Eugene Kittredge (1912). “Interviews”

Too much doubt is better than too much credulity.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Doubt, Religion, Atheism
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.977, Library of Alexandria

Ignorance worships mystery; reason explains it; the one grovels, the other soars.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Ignorance, Religion, Atheism
Robert Green Ingersoll (1874). “The Gods, and Other Lectures”, p.113

The doctrine of eternal punishment is in perfect harmony with the savagery of the men who made the orthodox creeds. It is in harmony with torture, with flaying alive, and with burnings.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Perfect, Doctrine
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The Works of Robert G.Ingersoll. [Dresden Ed.]”

And why does this same God tell me how to raise my children when he had to drown his?

Robert Green Ingersoll
Children, Doe, My Children
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.372, Library of Alexandria

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