“To attain happiness in another world we need only to believe something, while to secure it in this world we must do something
“As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys
“The idea that a good God would send people to a burning hell is utterly damnable to me - the ravings of insanity, superstition gone to see! I want no part of such a God
“When earth breaks up and heaven expands, how will the change strike me and you in the house not made with hands?
“Science has done more for the development of western civilization in one hundred years than Christianity did in eighteen hundred years.
“If you wait for a perfect church, you must wait until you get to heaven; and even if you could find a perfect assembly on earth, I am sure they would not admit you to their fellowship, for you are not perfect yourself.
“There must be something solemn, serious, and tender about any attitude which we denominate religious. If glad, it must not grin or snicker; if sad, it must not scream or curse.
“It may be that religion is dead, and if it is, we had better know it and set ourselves to try to discover other sources of moral strength before it is too late
“There are many definite methods, honest and dishonest, which make people rich; the only ''instinct'' I know of which does it is that instinct which theological Christianity crudely describes as ''the sin of avarice"
“It is no little wisdom for you to keep yourself in silence and in good peace when evil words are spoken to you, and to turn your heart to God and not to be troubled with the judgment of others