Those who say that I am being punished are saying that god can't think of anything more vengeful than cancer for a heavy smoker.

If religious instruction were not allowed until the child had attained the age of reason, we would be living in a quite different world.

Islamophobia: a word created by fascists, and used by cowards, to manipulate morons.

Religion is poison because it asks us to give up our most precious faculty, which is that of reason, and to believe things without evidence. It then asks us to respect this, which it calls faith.

Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence.

Human beings are pattern-seeking animals who will prefer even a bad theory or a conspiracy theory to no theory at all.

I learned that very often the most intolerant and narrow-minded people are the ones who congratulate themselves on their tolerance and open-mindedness.

High moral character is not a precondition for great moral accomplishments.

What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

Why do humans exist? A major part of the answer: because Pikaia Gracilens survived the Burgess decimation.

The only real radicalism in our time will come as it always has—from people who insist on thinking for themselves and who reject party-mindedness.

It is almost as thoughsomething else is breathingquite close by, invisibly.The mystery of the names…Albizzia. Gleditsia.Aucuba japonica. AndI am listening, seeing. Seeing, like someone twice alive.

The Internet has established a public sphere and developed a pressure which the government can no longer ignore.

I don't see the risk, I enjoy performing stunts, and I don't get scared.

We grow a little every time we do not take advantage of somebody's weakness.

The ultimate goal of Bhakti is to get Krishna and we get it by taking shelter of the holy name.

Memory feeds a culture, nourishes hope and makes a human, human.

There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a horse, that should forever exempt him from indignities.

God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands.

You can teach someone how to control their strength, but you can't teach them to be strong.

All real progress must be slow.