[A]ll churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, are simply human inventions. They use fear to enslave us. They are a monopoly for power and profit.

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.

A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.

He who dares not offend cannot be honest.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.

Temeraire said, 'It is very nice how many books there are, indeed. And on so many subjects!

Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt.

I am getting sick of people. I am falling in love with things. They hold their tongues.

We cannot grow spiritually if we ignore our humanness, just as we cannot become fully human if we ignore our spirituality.

The law is what it is-a majestic edifice, sheltering all of us, each stone of which rests on another.

Personally, I don't think pure vegetarianism is a healthy lifestyle. I've often wondered to myself: Does a vegetarian look forward to dinner, ever?

In comedy, the witty style wins out over every mishap of the plot.

I think things happen between people for a reason.

I'm always pursuing knowledge; I'm a seeker of spiritual equilibrium - and music is a big part of that.

Real happiness is not dependent on external things.