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Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes - Page 4

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Arguments cannot be answered with insults. . . . Kindness is strength. . . . Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. In the examination of a great and important question, every one should be serene, slow-pulsed, and calm.

Arguments cannot be answered with insults. . . . Kindness is strength. . . . Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. In the examination of a great and important question, every one should be serene, slow-pulsed, and calm.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Kindness, Blow, Mind
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1588, Library of Alexandria

If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake; that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been bad. This belief built the dungeons of the Inquisition. This belief made the Puritan murder the Quaker.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Hate, Believe, Men
Robert Green Ingersoll (1909). “Interviews”

There is no harmony between religion and science. When science was a child, religion sought to strangle it in the cradle. Now that science has attained its youth, and superstition is in its dotage, the trembling, palsied wreck says to the athlete: "Let us be friends."

Robert Green Ingersoll
Children, Athlete, Wrecks
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The Works of Robert G.Ingersoll. [Dresden Ed.]”

Most men are followers, and implicitly rely upon the judgment of others. They mistake solemnity for wisdom, and regard a grave countenance as the title page and Preface to a most learned volume. So they are easily imposed upon by forms, strange garments, and solemn ceremonies. And when the teaching of parents, the customs of neighbors, and the general tongue approve and justify a belief or creed, no matter how absurd, it is hard even for the strongest to hold the citadel of his soul. In each country, in defence of each religion, the same arguments would be urged.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Country, Wisdom, Mistake
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.773, Library of Alexandria

I am not so much for the freedom of religion as I am for the religion of freedom.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Freedom Of Religion
Robert Green Ingersoll, Herman Eugene Kittredge (1909). “The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll”

Creationists use facts the same way a drunk uses a lightpost: for support instead of illumination

Robert Green Ingersoll
Illumination, Drunk, Support

And yet this same Deity says to me, resist not evil; pray for those that despitefully use you; love your enemies, but I will eternally damn mine. It seems to me that even gods should practice what they preach.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Love You, Practice, Evil
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2122, Library of Alexandria

In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Work, India, Genius
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.725, Library of Alexandria

My objection to Christianity is that it is infinitely cruel, infinitely selfish, and, I might add, infinitely absurd.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Religious, Selfish, Religion
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2591, Library of Alexandria

It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving

Robert Green Ingersoll
Receiving, Deserve, Deserving
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”

The Church has always been willing to swap off treasures in heaven for cash down.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Funny, Humorous, Heaven
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.261, Library of Alexandria

Intellectual liberty is the air of the soul, the sunshine of the mind, and without it, the world is a prison, the universe is a dungeon.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Sunshine, Air, Soul
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.456, Library of Alexandria

You see, after all, few rich men own their property. The property owns them.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Vaccines, Rich
"Political speeches of Robert G. Ingersoll".

Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Religion, Civilized
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.159, Library of Alexandria

Blasphemy is an epithet bestowed by superstition upon common sense.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Common Sense, Superstitions, Epithet
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1217, Library of Alexandria

It is hard for many people to give up the religion in which they were born; to admit that their fathers were utterly mistaken, and that the sacred records of their country are but collections of myths and fables.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Country, Giving Up, Father
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.314, Library of Alexandria

The old doctrine that God wanted man to do something for him, and that he kept a watchful eye upon all the children of men; that he rewarded the virtuous and punished the wicked, is gradually fading from the mind. We know that some of the worst men have what the world calls success. We know that some of the best men lie upon the straw of failure. We know that honesty goes hungry, while larceny sits at the banquet. We know that the vicious have every physical comfort, while the virtuous are often clad in rags.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Children, Honesty, Lying
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The Works of Robert G.Ingersoll. [Dresden Ed.]”

The priests of one religion never credit the miracles of another religion. Is this because priests instinctively know priests?

Robert Green Ingersoll
Miracle, Religion, Credit
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2603, Library of Alexandria

Every man is dishonest who lives upon the labor of others, no matter if he occupies a throne.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Men, Economic Inequality, Political
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.236, Library of Alexandria

My principal objections to orthodox religion are two: slavery here and hell hereafter.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Two, Religion, Slavery
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.2437, Library of Alexandria

To hate man and worship God seems to be the sum of all the creeds.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Hate, Men, Worship
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.301, Library of Alexandria

If abuses are destroyed, man must destroy them. If slaves are freed, man must free them. If new truths are discovered, man must discover them. If the naked are clothed; if the hungry are fed; if justice is done; if labor is rewarded; if superstition is driven from the mind; if the defenseless are protected, and if the right finally triumphs, all must be the work of man. The grand victories of the future must be won by man, and by man alone.

Robert Green Ingersoll
People, Justice, Humanity
"Ingersollia: Gems of Thought".

The man who invented the telescope found out more about heaven than the closed eyes of prayer ever discovered.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Prayer, Eye, Men
Robert Green Ingersoll (1907). “The works of Robert G. Ingersoll”, p.1312, Library of Alexandria

This is my creed: Happiness is the only good; reason the only torch; justice the only worship, humanity the only religion, and love the only priest.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Happiness, Justice, Humanity

If I owe Smith ten dollars and God forgives me, that doesn't pay Smith.

Robert Green Ingersoll
Forgiveness, God, Forgive Me

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