Do what you can to do what you ought, and leave hoping and fearing alone.

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, then that of blindfolded fear.

So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.

Question with boldness even the existance of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.

A book has but one voice, but it does not instruct everyone alike.

Our idea of God tells us more about ourselves than about Him.

When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.

Man cannot make principles, he can only discover them.

Reason obeys itselt; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

He prays dictatorially. When it is sunshine, he prays for rain, and when it is rain, he prays for sunshine. He follows the same idea in everything that he prays for; for what is the amount of all his prayers, but an attempt to make the Almighty change his mind, and act otherwise than he does? It is as if he were to say—- thou knowest not so well as I.

I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.

I forbid you, agnostic, doubting thoughts, to destroy the house of my faith.