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
philosophy passion men
When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men are civilized. The people need education - facts - philosophy.
memorial-day cheer soldier
I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead.
stand-alone presidents-day type
Lincoln was not a type. He stands alone - no ancestors, no fellows, no successors.
sacrifice men smell
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.
promise jehovah vices
Jehovah was not a moral god. He had all the vices and he lacked all the virtues. He generally carried out all his threats, but he never faithfully kept a promise.
theology knows
Theology is not what we know about God, but what we do not know about Nature.
love-is joy soul
Joy is wealth and love is the legal tender of the soul.
prayer children intelligent
Every child should be taught that useful work is worship and that intelligent labor is the highest form of prayer.
christian pagan natural
The good part of Christmas is not always Christian -- it is generally Pagan; that is to say, human, natural.
peer-pressure cradle tombs
Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb.
independence liberty genius
The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.
kings philosophy years
Years should not be devoted to the acquisition of dead languages or to the study of history which, for the most part, is a detailed account of things that never occurred. It is useless to fill the individual with dates of great battles, with the births and deaths of kings. They should be taught the philosophy of history, the growth of nations, of philosophies, theories, and, above all, of the sciences.
dumb wish different
The only reason why we wish to exchange thoughts is that we are different. If we were all the same, we would die dumb. No thought would be expressed after we found that our thoughts were precisely alike. We differ-our thoughts are different. Therefore the commerse that we call conversation.
good-day ideas house
I am simply in favor of intellectual hospitality-that is all. You come to me with a new idea. I invite you into the house. Let us see what you have. Let us talk it over. If I do not like your thought, I will bid it a polite "good day." If I do like it, I will say: "Sit down; stay with me, and become a part of the intellectual wealth of my world."