Quotes by Robert G. Ingersoll

About Robert G. Ingersoll:

Robert Green was a lawyer, a Civil War veteran, political leader, and orator of 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".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Upon the shadowy shore of death the sea of trouble casts no wave. Eyes that have been curtained by the everlasting dark, will never know again the burning touch of tears. Lips touched by eternal silence will never speak again the broken words of grie...

Robert G. Ingersoll

The agnostic does not simply say, "l do not know." He goes another step, and he says, with great emphasis, that you do not know. He insists that you are trading on the ignorance of others, and on the fear of others. He is not satisfied with saying th...

Robert G. Ingersoll

As more people become more intelligent they care less for preachers and more for teachers.

Robert G. Ingersoll

Love is the only bow on Life’s dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher. It is the air and light of eve...

Robert G. Ingersoll

No one, in the world's whole history, ever attempted to substantiate a truth by a miracle. Truth scorns the assistance of miracle. Nothing but falsehood ever attested itself by signs and wonders. No miracle ever was performed, and no sane man ever th...

Robert G. Ingersoll

No one can control his own opinion or his own belief. My belief was forced upon me by my surroundings. I am the product of all circumstances that have in any way touched me.

Robert G. Ingersoll

There are treasures in books that all the money in the world cannot buy, but the poorest laborer can have for nothing.

Robert G. Ingersoll

So, ministers say that they teach charity. This is natural. They live on alms. All beggars teach that others should give.

Robert G. Ingersoll

The doctrine of eternal punishment is in perfect harmony with the savagery of the men who made the orthodox creeds. It is in harmony with torture, with flaying alive, and with burnings. The men who burned their fellow-men for a moment, believed that ...

Robert G. Ingersoll

Brain without heart is far more dangerous than heart without brain.

Robert G. Ingersoll

Is it a small thing to quench the flames of hell with the holy tears of pity -- to unbind the martyr from the stake -- break all the chains -- put out the fires of civil war -- stay the sword of the fanatic, and tear the bloody hands of the Church fr...

Robert G. Ingersoll

But those who are incapable of pitying animals are, as a matter of fact, incapable of pitying men. A physician who would cut a living rabbit in pieces -- laying bare the nerves, denuding them with knives, pulling them out with forceps -- would not he...

Robert G. Ingersoll

He [Alexander von Humboldt] was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama.

Robert G. Ingersoll

The founder of a religion must be able to turn water into wine -- cure with a word the blind and lame, and raise with a simple touch the dead to life. It was necessary for him to demonstrate to the satisfaction of his barbarian disciple, that he was ...

Robert G. Ingersoll

One great objection to the Old Testament is the cruelty said to have been commanded by God. All these cruelties ceased with death. The vengeance of Jehovah stopped at the tomb. He never threatened to punish the dead; and there is not one word, from t...

Robert G. Ingersoll

Liberty a word without which all other words are vain.

Robert G. Ingersoll

Nearly all people stand in great horror of annihilation, and yet to give up your individuality is to annihilate yourself. Mental slavery is mental death, and every man who has given up his intellectual freedom is the living coffin of his dead soul.

Robert G. Ingersoll

Justice is the only worship. Love is the only priest. Ignorance is the only slavery. Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now, The place to be happy is here, The way to be happy is to make others so. Wisdom is the science of happiness.

Robert G. Ingersoll

It is contended by many that ours is a Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon the book as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our country. The truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of ...

Robert G. Ingersoll

Nothing could add to the horror of hell, except the presence of its creator, God. While I have life, as long as I draw breath, I shall deny with all my strength, and hate with every drop of my blood, this infinite lie.

Robert G. Ingersoll

Is it necessary that Heaven should borrow its light from the glare of Hell? Infinite punishment is infinite cruelty, endless injustice, immortal meanness. To worship an eternal gaoler hardens, debases, and pollutes even the vilest soul. While there i...

Robert G. Ingersoll

Author Bio

  • NameRobert G. Ingersoll
  • DescriptionUnion United States Army officer
  • BornAugust 11, 1833
  • DiedJuly 21, 1899
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionLawyer; Politician; Writer; Essayist