Robert Green Ingersoll
Robert Green Ingersoll
Robert Green "Bob" Ingersollwas an American lawyer, a Civil War veteran, political leader, and orator of the United States during the Golden Age of Free Thought, noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. He was nicknamed "The Great Agnostic"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionLawyer
Date of Birth11 August 1833
CountryUnited States of America
everywhere fell happiest home people sports
In France, the people were the sport of a king's caprice. Everywhere was the shadow of the Bastille. It fell upon the sunniest field, upon the happiest home.
ancestors children genius great heredity man people seem select
It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to be as much in heredity as most people think. The children of the great are often small.
measured tendency word work
No writer must be measured by a word or paragraph. He is to be measured by his work - by the tendency, not of one line, but by the tendency of all.
intended knew man
Our fathers knew that the flag was never intended to protect any man who wanted to assail it.
fathers worships
Our fathers worshiped the golden calf. The worst you can say of an American now is, he worships the gold of the calf.
entirely government kept purely religious views
Our government should be entirely and purely secular. The religious views of a candidate should be kept entirely out of sight.
conviction divine life religion theory
Religion is not theory - it is life. It is not intellectual conviction - it is divine humanity, and nothing else.
characters highway pursued shakespeare
Shakespeare pursued the highway of the right. He did not seek to put his characters in a position where it was right to do wrong.
authors children great
The children of great authors do not, as a rule, become writers.
doctrine human love rests
The doctrine of immortality rests upon human affection. We love; therefore, we wish to live.
edifice good grand life walls worked
The walls of that grand edifice called a good character have to be worked at during life.
common field home man undo
There is no common sense in going to the field to fight and leaving a man at home to undo all that you accomplish.
human lower sympathy
What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy - human sympathy.
dreary elevates happiness loves shop whether whoever works
Whoever labors for the happiness of those he loves elevates himself, no matter whether he works in the dreary shop or the perfumed field.