A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people’s business.

Eric Hoffer, “The True Believer”

The opposite of the religious fanatic is not the fanatical atheist but the gentle cynic who cares not whether there is a god or not.

Eric Hoffer, “The True Believer”

Faith is the effort to believe what your common sense tells you is not true.

Elbert Hubbard

I regard religion itself as quite unnecessary for a nation's life; science is far above superstition; and what is religion, Buddhism or Christianity, but superstition, and therefore a possible source of weakness to a nation?

Ito Hirobumi (Japanese Prime Minister)

The church says the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the church.

Ferdinand Magellan

I cannot comprehend how any man can want anything but the truth.

Marcus Aurelius

Since Christendom comprehends only a small part of the globe, should not everyone who believes in God be saved by his own religion?

Emperor Maximilian I

The King of France is called the Most Christian King, but this does him an injustice, for he never did a Christian thing… The Pope is called His Holiness but he is the biggest scoundrel on earth.

Emperor Maximilian I

Heaven is supposed to be a perfect place. Yet, it experienced a war (Revelation 12:7). How can there be a war in a perfect place and if it happened before why couldn't it happen again? Why would I want to go to a place in which war can occur? That's exactly what I'm trying to escape, aren't you?

C Dennis McKinsey

The invisible and nonexistent look much alike.

Delos B McKown

I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education.

Wilson Mizner

If you steal from one author, it's plagiarism; if you steal from many, it's research.

Wilson Mizner

The Good Book — one of the most remarkable euphamisms ever coined.

Ashley Montagu

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not his own facts.

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Religion is now the first obstacle to women's advancement. Religion pulls human beings backwards, it goes against science and progressiveness. Religion engulfs people with a fear of the supernatural. It bars people from laughing and never allows people to exercise their choice.

Taslima Nasrin

I don't need God because I want neither paradise nor hell.

Aziz Nesin

In Germany they first came for the Communists — and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews — and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists — and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics — and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak up.

The Reverend Martin Niemoller

Those death sentences for blasphemy suggest that Islam lacks the moral and intellectual strength and integrity to defend itself against its critics.

Robert Nordlander

Hell has been conceived as a police institution, to inspire fear in this world. But the worst of it all is that it no longer frightens anyone, and therefore it will have to be closed down.

Miguel de Unamuno

God made everything out of nothing. But the nothingness shows through.

Paul Valéry

Ventura: “… See, we call our country home of the brave and land of the free, but it’s not. We give a false portrayal of freedom. We’re not free — if we were, we’d allow people their freedom. Prohibiting something doesn’t make it go away. Prostitution is criminal, and bad things happen because it’s run illegally by dirtbags who are criminals. If it’s legal, then the girls could have health checks, unions, benefits, anything any other worker gets, and it would be far better.”
Playboy: “This isn’t a very popular position in America, is it?”
Ventura: “No, and it’s because of religion. Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people’s business. I live by the golden rule: Treat others as you’d want them to treat you. The religious right wants to tell people how to live.”

Gov. Jesse Ventura, “Playboy”

It is the final proof of God’s omnipotence that he need not exist in order to save us.

Peter De Vries

I've argued that many of what philosophers call moral sentiments can be seen in other species. In chimpanzees and other animals, you see examples of sympathy, empathy, reciprocity, a willingness to follow social rules. Dogs are a good example of a species that have and obey social rules; that's why we like them so much, even though they're large carnivores.

Frans de Waal

If the factory pays taxes and the church does not, it follows that the church will some day own the factory.

Lemuel K Washburn

I don't think we're here for anything, we're just products of evolution. You can say, ‘Gee, your life must be pretty bleak if you don't think there's a purpose,’ but I'm anticipating a good lunch.

James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA