“If experience be consulted, it will be found there is no action, however abominable, that has not received the applause of some people. Parricide - the sacrifice of children - robbery - usurpation - cruelty - intolerance - prostitution, have all in their turn been licensed actions, and have been deemed laudable and meritorious deeds with some nations of the earth. Above all, Religion has consecrated the most unreasonable, the most revolting customs.” PeopleIfsChildrenHas BeensActionEarthReligionTurnsFoundNationsSacrificeDeedsCrueltyCustomsIntoleranceApplauseProstitutionUnreasonableRobberyUsurpation Author:Baron d'Holbach
“The inward persuasion that we are free to do, or not to do a thing, is but a mere illusion. If we trace the true principle of our actions, we shall find, that they are always necessary consequences of our volitions and desires, which are never in our power. You think yourself free, because you do what you will; but are you free to will, or not to will; to desire, or not to desire? Are not your volitions and desires necessarily excited by objects or qualities totally independent of you?” IfsThinkingActionDesireQualityPrinciplesObjectsIllusionConsequenceIndependentMereExcitedFree WillInwardPersuasionOur ActionsVolition Author:Baron d'Holbach
“How could the human mind progress, while tormented with frightful phantoms, and guided by men, interested in perpetuating its ignorance and fears? Man has been forced to vegetate in his primitive stupidity: he has been taught stories about invisible powers upon whom his happiness was supposed to depend. Occupied solely by his fears, and by unintelligible reveries, he has always been at the mercy of priests, who have reserved to themselves the right of thinking for him, and of directing his actions.” ThinkingMenMindHumansHas BeensStoriesActionProgressIgnoranceTaughtDependsMercyStupidityInvisiblePriestsHuman MindPrimitiveReservedPhantomsReveriePerpetuatingIgnorance And Fear Author:Baron d'Holbach
