We have just enough religion to make us hate but not enough to make us love one another.

We have just enough religion to make us hate but not enough to make us love one another.

Religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from the fact that it falls in with our instinctual desires.

Religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from the fact that it falls in with our instinctual desires.

Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the read more

Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men

Happy thou that learnest from another's griefs, not to subject
thyself to the same.
[Lat., Felix quicumque dolore read more

Happy thou that learnest from another's griefs, not to subject
thyself to the same.
[Lat., Felix quicumque dolore alterius disces posse cavere tuo.]

Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

On the whole we must repeat the often repeated saying, that it is
unworthy a religious man to view read more

On the whole we must repeat the often repeated saying, that it is
unworthy a religious man to view an irreligious one either with
alarm or aversion; or with any other feeling than regret, and
hope, and brotherly commiseration.

So 'ere the storm of war broke out,
Religion spawn'd a various rout
Of petulant capricious sects,
read more

So 'ere the storm of war broke out,
Religion spawn'd a various rout
Of petulant capricious sects,
That maggots of corrupted texts,
That first run all religion down,
And after every swarm its own.

This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,--
That firste he wroughte and after he taughte.

This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,--
That firste he wroughte and after he taughte.

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. read more

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.