Fortunately for themselves and for the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. read more

Fortunately for themselves and for the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come of a few fools having the "courage of their convictions.".

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may read more

The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; which proceed sciences which may be called "sciences as one would." For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of the vulgar. Numberless in short are the ways, and sometimes imperceptible, in which the affections color and infect the understanding.

Agnosticism is the philosophical, ethical and religious dry-rot of the modern world.

Agnosticism is the philosophical, ethical and religious dry-rot of the modern world.

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he read more

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means.

Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation.

Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation.

At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and read more

At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and a version of history. To human nature (of the sort conceived), in a universe (of the kind imagined), after a history (so understood), the rules of the code apply.

So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.

So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.

With the power of conviction, there is no sacrifice.

With the power of conviction, there is no sacrifice.

Rob the average man of his life-illusion, and you rob him of his happiness at the same stroke.

Rob the average man of his life-illusion, and you rob him of his happiness at the same stroke.