Quotessence
Home / Authors / Robert Green Ingersoll
Robert Green Ingersoll

Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes

Lawyer

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenIfsAtheismReligionWorldPositive AtheismShouldKnowsLibertyBelievePeopleHumansGivingHas BeensThinkingChurchReasonChildrenCreedsDoe

Famous Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes

“Millions of men give all their energies, as well as their very souls, for the acquisition of gold. And this will continue as long as society is ignorant enough and hypocritical enough to hold in high esteem the man of wealth without the slightest regard to the character of the man.”

MenGivingShouldWellsLongTwoSoulEnoughCharacterUsedEnergyWealthMoneyMillionsRichMankindHe ManJudgingBenefitsGoldRegardHonestlyIgnorantEsteemTwo ThingsAcquisitionHypocritical
Author:Robert Green Ingersoll
Create image

“We all know that men in moderate circumstances can have just as comfortable houses as the richest, just as comfortable clothing, just as good food. They can see just as fine paintings, just as marvelous statues, and they can hear just as good music. They can attend the same theaters and the same operas. They can enjoy the same sunshine, and above all, can love and be loved just as well as kings and millionaires.”

KnowsMenWellsHouseEnjoyMoneyPaintingFineKingsCircumstancesComfortableTheaterSunshineClothingsOperaMarvelousModeratesStatuesMillionaireGood Food
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll: Miscellany
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

“I believe that there is something far nobler than loyalty to any particular man. Loyalty to the truth as we perceive it - loyalty to our duty as we know it - loyalty to the ideals of our brain and heart - is, to my mind, far greater and far nobler than loyalty to the life of any particular man or God. . . .”

KnowsMenLifeMindBelieveHeartI BelieveBrainGreaterParticularDutyIdealsLoyaltyPerceiveGod LifeHeart And Brain
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“An honest god is the noblest work of man. ... God has always resembled his creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved and he was invariably found on the side of those in power. ... Most of the gods were pleased with sacrifice, and the smell of innocent blood has ever been considered a divine perfume.”

MenFoundSidesSacrificeBloodHonestDivineCreatorSmellInnocentHatedPerfume
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“I believe in the religion of reason -- the gospel of this world; in the development of the mind, in the accumulation of intellectual wealth, to the end that man may free himself from superstitious fear, to the end that he may take advantage of the forces of nature to feed and clothe the world.”

ThinkingMenWorldMindBelieveMayEndsReasonForceI BelieveWealthThis WorldDevelopmentIntellectualAdvantageI Believe InAccumulationSuperstitiousForces Of Nature
Book:Lectures and Essays (a Selection)
Create image

“Man must learn to rely upon himself. Reading bibles will not protect him from the blasts of winter, but houses, fires. and clothing will. To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons, and even patent medicines will cure more diseases than all the prayers uttered since the beginning of the world.”

MenWorldReadingHousePrayerMillionsFireProtectDiseaseMedicineWinterCuresRelyClothingsSermonsBlastFaminePatentsRely UponReading The BibleHouse Fires
Book:An Oration on the Gods
Create image

“For ages, a deadly conflict has been waged between a few brave men and women of thought and genius upon the one side, and the great ignorant religious mass on the other. This is the war between Science and Faith. The few have appealed to reason, to honor, to law, to freedom, to the known, and to happiness here in this world. The many have appealed to prejudice, to fear, to miracle, to slavery, to the unknown, and to misery hereafter. The few have said "Think" The many have said "Believe!"”

ThinkingMenWorldBelieveHas BeensSaidWarReasonAgeLawFaithBeliefSidesReligiousKnownThis WorldGeniusHonorConflictMassMen And WomenMiraclePrejudiceSlaveryBraveMiseryIgnorantHereafterBrave Man
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“The intelligent and good man holds in his affections the good and true of every land -- the boundaries of countries are not the limitations of his sympathies. Caring nothing for race, or color, he loves those who speak other languages and worship other gods. Between him and those who suffer, there is no impassable gulf. He salutes the world, and extends the hand of friendship to the human race. He does not bow before a provincial and patriotic god -- one who protects his tribe or nation, and abhors the rest of mankind.”

MenWorldLoveHumansDoeCountryHandsSufferingSpeakLanguageNationsRaceLandMankindColorProtectWorshipIntelligentAffectionCaringBoundariesLimitationHuman RaceGood ManPatrioticBowsTribesSalute
Book:Miscellany
Create image

“The Unitarian Church has done more than any other church to substitute character for creed, and to say that a man should be judged by his spirit; by the climate of his heart; by the autumn of his generosity; by the spring of his hope; that he should be judged by what he does; by the influence that he exerts, rather than by the mythology he may believe.”

MenShouldBelieveHeartMayDoeDoneCharacterSpiritChurchJusticeInfluenceSpringSocial JusticeClimateMythologyGenerosityAutumnSubstitutesJudgedCreedsUnitarianUnitarian Church
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“Christianity has such a contemptible opinion of human nature that it does not believe a man can tell the truth unless frightened by a belief in god. No lower opinion of the human race has ever been expressed.”

MenBelieveHumansDoeBeliefRaceChristianityOpinionHuman NaturePositive AtheismHuman RaceTelling The TruthFrightenedBelief In God
Book:Ingersoll the Magnificent: To which Has Been Added a Special Arrangement of Some Gems from Ingersoll for Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage
Create image

“Is there an intelligent man or woman now in the world who believes in the Garden of Eden story? If you find any man who believes it, strike his forehead and you will hear an echo. Something is for rent.”

IfsMenWorldBelieveStoriesGardenIntelligentPositive AtheismStrikesEchoesForeheadsEdenGarden Of EdenIntelligent Man
Book:Ingersoll the Magnificent: To which Has Been Added a Special Arrangement of Some Gems from Ingersoll for Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage
Create image

“Most men are followers, and implicitly rely upon the judgment of others. They mistake solemnity for wisdom, and regard a grave countenance as the title page and Preface to a most learned volume. So they are easily imposed upon by forms, strange garments, and solemn ceremonies. And when the teaching of parents, the customs of neighbors, and the general tongue approve and justify a belief or creed, no matter how absurd, it is hard even for the strongest to hold the citadel of his soul. In each country, in defence of each religion, the same arguments would be urged.”

MenSoulCountryMatterHardWisdomWould BeFormBeliefParentMistakeTeachingStrangeJudgmentPagesArgumentRegardTongueNeighborGravesAbsurdTitlesRelyJustifyCustomsStrongestFollowersCreedsVolumeCeremonyDefenceSolemnGarmentsCountenanceRely UponSolemnityCitadelsJudgment Of Others
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“Crimes were committed to punish crimes, and crimes were committed to prevent crimes. The world has been filled with prisons and dungeons, with chains and whips, with crosses and gibbets, with thumbscrews and racks, with hangmen and heads-men — and yet these frightful means and instrumentalities have committed far more crimes than they have prevented.... Ignorance, filth, and poverty are the missionaries of crime. As long as dishonorable success outranks honest effort — as long as society bows and cringes before the great thieves, there will be little ones enough to fill the jails.”

MenWorldMeanLittlesLongHas BeensEnoughEffortPovertyHonestCrimeIgnoranceCrossesFilledPrisonCommittedChainsJailBowsThievesWhipsFilthRacksDungeonsCringeHangmanDishonorable
Author:Robert Green Ingersoll
Create image

“It is perfectly delightful to take advantage of the conscientious labors of those who go through and through volume after volume, divide with infinite patience the gold from the dross, and present us with the pure and shining coin. Such men may be likened to bees who save us numberless journeys by giving us the fruit of their own.”

MenGivingMayJourneyPureAdvantageLaborGoldInfiniteShiningFruitDividesBeesVolumeDelightfulCoinsDross
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image

“When a man really believes that it is necessary to do a certain thing to be happy forever, or that a certain belief is necessary to ensure eternal joy, there is in that man no spirit of concession. He divides the whole world into saints and sinners, into believers and unbelievers, into God's sheep and Devil's goats, into people who will be glorified and people who are damned.”

PeopleMenWorldBelieveWholeJoySpiritCertainReligionBeliefForeverEternalDevilSaintBelieverWhole WorldSinnerDividesSheepGoatsConcessionsUnbelieversSaints And Sinners
Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Create image