Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

With most people unbelief in one thing is founded upon blind belief in another.

With most people unbelief in one thing is founded upon blind belief in another.

Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.

Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.

I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the read more

I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.

Religion brought forth riches, and the daughter devoured the
mother.
[Lat., Religio peperit divitias et filia devoravit matrem.]

Religion brought forth riches, and the daughter devoured the
mother.
[Lat., Religio peperit divitias et filia devoravit matrem.]

For men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.

For men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.

One should not stand at the foot of a sick person's bed, because that place is reserved for the guardian read more

One should not stand at the foot of a sick person's bed, because that place is reserved for the guardian angel.

Formerly, when religion was strong and science weak, men mistook magic for medicine; now, when science is strong and religion read more

Formerly, when religion was strong and science weak, men mistook magic for medicine; now, when science is strong and religion weak, men mistake medicine for magic.

"The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round. For I have seen the read more

"The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round. For I have seen the shadow on the moon and I have more faith in the Shadow than in the Church.