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.

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.

I always divide people into two groups. Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those read more

I always divide people into two groups. Those who live by what they know to be a lie, and those who live by what they believe, falsely, to be the truth.

Fear prophets and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with read more

Fear prophets and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with them, often before them, at times instead of them.

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.

Even a band of angels can turn ugly and start looting if enough angels are unemployed and hanging around the read more

Even a band of angels can turn ugly and start looting if enough angels are unemployed and hanging around the Pearly Gates convinced that all the succubi own all the liquor stores in Heaven.

Sermons are like pie-crust, the shorter the better.

Sermons are like pie-crust, the shorter the better.

I won't take my religion from any man who never works except with his mouth and never cherishes any memory read more

I won't take my religion from any man who never works except with his mouth and never cherishes any memory except the face of the woman on the American silver dollar.

When we debunk a fanatical faith or prejudice, we do not strike at the root of fanaticism. We merely prevent read more

When we debunk a fanatical faith or prejudice, we do not strike at the root of fanaticism. We merely prevent its leaking out at a certain point, with the likely result that it will leak out at some other point. Thus by denigrating prevailing beliefs and loyalties, the militant man of words unwittingly creates in the disillusioned masses a hunger for faith. For the majority of people cannot endure the barrenness and futility of their lives unless they have some ardent dedication, or some passionate pursuit in which they can lose themselves. Thus, in spite of himself, the scoffing man of words becomes the precursor of a new faith.