Christopher Hitchens - Reasonable Doubt

"Doubt is uncomfortable, certainty is ridiculous."
- Voltaire

"I suppose that one reason I have always detested religion is its sly tendency to insinuate the idea that the universe is designed with 'you' in mind or, even worse, that there is a divine plan into which one fits whether one knows it or not. This kind of modesty is too arrogant for me."
— Christopher Hitchens (Hitch-22: A Memoir)

"We owe a huge debt to Galileo for emancipating us all from the stupid belief in an Earth-centered or man-centered (let alone God-centered) system. He quite literally taught us our place and allowed us to go on to make extraordinary advances in knowledge."

"Why do humans exist? A major part of the answer: because Pikaia Gracilens survived the Burgess decimation."
— Christopher Hitchens (God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything)

"Those of us who write and study history are accustomed to its approximations and ambiguities. This is why we do not take literally the tenth-hand reports of frightened and illiterate peasants who claim to have seen miracles or to have had encounters with messiahs and prophets and redeemers who were, like them, mere humans. And this is also why we will never submit to dictation from those who display a fanatical belief in certainty and revelation."
— Christopher Hitchens

Try Vladimir Nabokov's microcosmic miniature story 'Signs and Symbols,' which is about angst and misery in general but also succeeds in placing it in what might be termed a starkly individual perspective. The album of the distraught family contains a faded study of
Aunt Rosa, a fussy, angular, wild-eyed old lady, who had lived in a tremulous world of bad news, bankruptcies, train accidents, cancerous growths—until the Germans put her to death, together with all the people she had worried about."
— Christopher Hitchens (Hitch-22: A Memoir)

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[malaku1957]

As usual, he hits the nail right on the head with wit and elegance. How is Hitch feeling these days? Let's wish him a healthy recovery...

[TheSasss1]

What a great clip! Thanks!

[dkthg]

@saxmanchiro Too right mate!

[saxmanchiro]

Historians will give Mr. Hitchens his just due. Lit students around the world will study and discuss his writing style, wit and incredible debating ability. He will go down as one of the greats who graced this spec of rock. I consider it a privilege to have shared this rock at the same time. His contribution to reason and the battle to relieve us of delusional thought, will be his legacy.

[compendiumgravemind]

@malaku1957 you should have prayed lol he would have got a kick out of the outcome.

[Katalyzt]

Perfectly said/done Hitch. You will be missed! ★★★★★

Katalyzt

[AutoBahnForever]

Mr. Hitchens is able to speak in stunning coherence and clarity with a Webster's Dictionary for vocabulary (at the drop of a hat) ................better than I or most people can write with unlimited time while sitting at the library with Google also up for additional reference points.

I hope all is going as planned with your medical trips to Maryland. Best wishes to you and yours.

[BrotherWoody1]

Takes one to know one?

[TheSasss1]

@BrotherWoody1 you're a nut

[TAz69x]

Sounds like Hitchens debates Tony Jones debate

[bonnie43uk]

I loved his phrase.. "Millimetrical progress"