Voltaire's Quotes

"The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reasoning"

 

"Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world."

 

"Atheism is the vice of a few intelligent people."

 

"Every sensible man, every honest man, must hold the Christian sect in horror. But what shall we substitute in it's place? you say. What? A ferocious animal has sucked the blood of my relatives. I tell you to rid yourselves of this beast, and you ask me what you shall put in it's place?"

 

"Christians have been the most intolerant of all men."

 

"When he that speaks, and he to whom he speaks, neither of them understand what is meant, that is metaphysics."

 

"The first priest was the first rogue who met the first fool."

 

"It is one of the superstitions of the human mind to have imagined that virginity could be a virtue."

 

"I have only made but one prayer in my life: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it."

 

"If Christians want us to believe in a Redeeder, let them act redeemed."

 

"Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them."

 

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."

 

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh."

 

"The superstitious man is to the rogue what the slave is to the tyrant."

 

"As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities."

 

"Our wretched species is so mad that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road."

 

"God created sex. Priests created marriage."

 

"The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost their power of reasoning."

 

"A clergyman is one who feels himself called upon to live without working at the expense of the rascals who work to live."

 

"The man who says to me, 'Believe as I do, or God will damn you,' will presently say, 'Believe as I do, or I shall assassinate you.'"

 

"You will notice that in all disputes between Christians since the birth of the Church, Rome has always favored the doctrine which most completely subjugated the human mind and annihilated reason."

 

"For many centuries the sword and cross were allies. Together they attacked the rights of man. They defended each other."

 

"Inspiration: A peculiar effect of divine flatulence emitted by the Holy Spirit which hisses into the ears of a few chosen of God...."

 

"All good Christians glory in the folly of the Cross. Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense."

 

"Holy Scripture: A book sent down from heaven.... Holy Scriptures contain all that a Christian should know and believe, provided he adds to it a million or so commentaries.

 

"God is not on the side of the big battalions, but on the side of those who shoot best."

 

"Would you believe that while the flames were consuming these innocent victims, the inquisitors and the other savages were chanting prayers? These pitiless monsters were invoking the God of mercy...While committing the most atrocious crime."

 

"In the midst of all the doubts which we have discussed for 4000 years in 4000 ways, the safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death."

 

"Which is more dangerous: fanaticism or atheism? Fanaticism is certainly a thousand times more deadly; for atheism inspires no bloody passion whereas fanaticism does; atheism is opposed to crime and fanaticism causes crimes to be committed."

 

"What effect will logic have upon a religious gentleman who firmly believes that a God of infinite compassion sent two bears to tear thirty or forty children in pieces for laughing at a bald-headed prophet?"

 

"Devil: The black sheep of the heavenly host, and the main prop of the Church....Without the devil God would cut but a sorry figure at best. The love of God is frequently but the fear of the devil."

 

"The son of God is the same as the son of man; the son of man is the same as the son of God. God, the father, is the same as Christ, the son; Christ, the son, is the same as God, the father. This language may appear confused to unbelievers, but Christians will readily understand it."

 

"Most of the great men of this world live as if they were atheists. Every man who has lived with his eyes open, knows that the knowledge of a God, his presence, and his justice, has not the slightest influence over the wars, the treaties, the objects of ambition, interest, or pleasure, in the pursuit of which they are wholly occupied."

 

"Every sensible man, every honest man, must hold the Christian sect in horror. But what shall we substitute in its place? you say. What? A ferocious animal has sucked the blood of my relatives. I tell you to rid yourselves of this beast, and you ask me what you shall put in its place?"
©Copyright 2001, 2002, Cybermr and A Failure to End Boredom.