If someone tells me that I've hurt their feelings, I say, 'I'm still waiting to hear what your point is.

If religious instruction were not allowed until the child had attained the age of reason, we would be living in a quite different world.

Islamophobia: a word created by fascists, and used by cowards, to manipulate morons.

Religion is poison because it asks us to give up our most precious faculty, which is that of reason, and to believe things without evidence. It then asks us to respect this, which it calls faith.

Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence.

Human beings are pattern-seeking animals who will prefer even a bad theory or a conspiracy theory to no theory at all.

I learned that very often the most intolerant and narrow-minded people are the ones who congratulate themselves on their tolerance and open-mindedness.

High moral character is not a precondition for great moral accomplishments.

What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Why do humans exist? A major part of the answer: because Pikaia Gracilens survived the Burgess decimation.

The only real radicalism in our time will come as it always has—from people who insist on thinking for themselves and who reject party-mindedness.

Great writing is always rewriting or revisionism, and is founded on a reading that clears space for the self.

Stoning prophets and erecting churches to their memory afterwards has been the way of the world through the ages. Today we worship Christ, but the Christ in the flesh we crucified.

Order is a great person's need and their true well being.

If the customer loves you, the government will have to love you.

it is not given to everyone to shine in adversity.

When I am in danger of bursting, I will go and whisper among the reeds.

Children, old people, vagabonds laugh easily and heartily: they have nothing to lose and hope for little. In renunciation lies a delicious taste of simplicity and deep peace.

Fear was given to man as a cautionary device to spare him pain; it is not mean to be cultivated and abused.

You see that gap is exactly how they can marginalize and exclude people from giving the voters more voices and choices.

There is only one meditation - the rigorous refusal to harbor thoughts.