Religion is a lie invented so lazy men can take money from stupid people.--TheMudbrooker

The Puritan opposes bear-baiting not because it brings pain to the bear, but because it brings pleasure to the spectator-- John Stuart Mill (I think)

Get smart and I'll fuck you over, thus sayeth The Lord - Frank Zappa

The civilization of man has increased just to the same extent as the power of religion has decreased.
Robert Green Ingersoll

What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not.
James Madison (from Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments, 1785)

The history of intellectual progress is written in the lives of infidels.
[Robert G. Ingersoll, speech, New York City, May 1, 1881]

I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon law and upon courts. These are false hopes, believe me, these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it. While it lies there it needs no constitution, no law, no courts to save it.
Learned Hand




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