Quotessence
Home / Books / The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

Book by Robert Green Ingersoll · 14 quotes · Men, Atheism, Ifs

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenAtheismIfsReligionWorldPositive AtheismShouldKnowsLibertyThinkingChurchGivingBelieveCreedsChildrenDoeHonestHumansLaborPeople

The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll Quotes

“All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable person that the Bible is simply and purely of human invention - of barbarian invention - is to read it. Read it as you would any other book; think of it as you would of any other; get the bandage of reverence from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the throne of your brain the cowled form of superstition - then read the Holy Bible, and you will be amazed that you ever, for one moment, supposed a being of infinite wisdom, goodness and purity, to be the author of such ignorance and of such atrocity.”

ThinkingHumansHeartPersonsBookMomentsSeemsEyeFormBrainIgnoranceHolyGoodnessInfiniteInventionPurityReasonableConvinceReverenceSuperstitionsThronesAmazedPhantomsAtrocitiesBarbariansHoly BibleBandagesHuman Inventions
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“The church in all ages and among all peoples has been the consistent enemy of the human race. Everywhere and at all times, it has opposed the liberty of thought and expression. It has been the sworn enemy of investigation and intellectual development. It has denied the existence of facts, the tendency of which was to undermine its power. It has always been carrying fagots to the feet of Philosophy. It has erected the gallows for Genius. It has built the dungeon for Thinkers.”

HumansHas BeensPhilosophyFactsAgeEvilChurchReligiousRaceExistenceLibertyEnemyFeetExpressionDevelopmentGeniusIntellectualBuiltTendenciesAll TimeHuman RaceConsistentThinkerDeniedInvestigationDungeonsGallowsIntellectual DevelopmentFagots
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, after all, to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, the first advocate of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the first to whisper in human ears the sacred word liberty, the creator of ambition, the author of modesty, of inquiry, of doubt, of investigation, of progress and of civilization.”

IfsFirstsHumansGivenLibertyEnemyDoubtProgressIgnoranceOughtCivilizationAmbitionEarsAccountsSacredCreatorModestyInvestigationInquiryGenesisSerpentReally True
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“Whenever a man believes that he has the exact truth from God, there is in that man no spirit of compromise. He has not the modesty born of the imperfections of human nature; he has the arrogance of theological certainty and the tyranny born of ignorant assurance. Believing himself to be the slave of God, he imitates his master, and of all tyrants the worst is a slave in power.”

MenBelieveHumansSpiritReligionBornAtheismWorstHuman NatureMastersSlaveTyrannyIgnorantCompromiseCertaintyArroganceImperfectionTyrantsModestyAssuranceTheological
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“I would not for my life destroy one star of human hope, but I want it so that when a poor woman rocks the cradle and sings a lullaby to the dimpled darling, she will not be compelled to believe that ninety-nine chances in a hundred she is raising kindling wood for hell.”

WantBelieveHumansStarsChancePoorHellAtheismRocksHundredWoodsPositive AtheismNineCompelledNinetyDarlingCradleNinety NineLullabyKindling
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“Every human being should be taught that his first duty is to take care of himself, and that to be self-respecting he must be self-supporting. To live on the labor of others, either by force which enslaves, or by cunning which robs, or by borrowing or begging, is wholly dishonorable. Every man should be taught some useful art.”

MenShouldFirstsHumansArtSelfCareForceWorkHuman BeingsTaughtDutyLaborTake CareEvery ManCunningBeggingBorrowingDishonorable
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“It cannot be said too often that actions are good or bad in the light of consequences, and that a clear perception of consequences would control actions. That which increases the sum of human happiness is moral; and that which diminishes the sum of human happiness is immoral. . . . Blind, unreasoning obedience is the enemy of morality.”

HumansSaidLightActionMoralEnemyClearMoralityPerceptionConsequenceIncreaseBlindObedienceDiminishImmoralHuman Happiness
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“And what is the great thing that the stage does? It cultivates the imagination. And . . . the imagination constitutes the great difference between human beings. . . . The imagination is the mother of pity, the mother of generosity, the mother of every possible virtue. It is by the imagination that you are enabled to put yourself in the place of another.”

LifeHumansDoeMotherImaginationDifferencesHuman BeingsVirtueStageGreat ThingsPityGenerosity
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image