Robert Ingersoll Quotes

Most popular Robert Ingersoll Quotes

Every science has been an outcast. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Every science has been an outcast.
— Robert Ingersoll Liberty of Man, Woman, and Child

science

An honest God is the noblest work of man. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
An honest God is the noblest work of man.
— Robert Ingersoll

honesty

The man who finds a truth lights a torch. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
The man who finds a truth lights a torch.
— Robert Ingersoll The Truth

truth

Courage without conscience is a wild beast. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Courage without conscience is a wild beast.
— Robert Ingersoll

courage

We are not accountable for the sins of Adam. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
We are not accountable for the sins of Adam.
— Robert Ingersoll

Adam & Eve religion

In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.
— Robert Ingersoll The Writings of Robert G. Ingersoll

mediocrity genius

Anger is the wind that blows out the light of reason. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Anger is the wind that blows out the light of reason.
— Robert Ingersoll

anger

This book was, and is, the true transcript of a soul. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
This book was, and is, the true transcript of a soul.
— Robert Ingersoll Leaves of Grass
Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.
— Robert Ingersoll

anger

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.
— Robert Ingersoll The Humanitarian Review

hope

Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion.
— Robert Ingersoll

religion

Few rich men own their own property. The property owns them. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Few rich men own their own property. The property owns them.
— Robert Ingersoll

wealth

Only the very ignorant are perfectly satisfied that they know. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Only the very ignorant are perfectly satisfied that they know.
— Robert Ingersoll Liberty in Literature

ignorance

Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself.
— Robert Ingersoll

ethics

Reason, Observation, and Experience — the Holy Trinity of Science. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Reason, Observation, and Experience — the Holy Trinity of Science.
— Robert Ingersoll
Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.
— Robert Ingersoll
In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences.
— Robert Ingersoll
The greatest test of courage on the earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
The greatest test of courage on the earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.
— Robert Ingersoll

courage

It is an old habit with theologians to beat the living with the bones of the dead. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
It is an old habit with theologians to beat the living with the bones of the dead.
— Robert Ingersoll

religion theology

Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.
— Robert Ingersoll

honesty

The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, the way to be happy is to make others so. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, the way to be happy is to make others so.
— Robert Ingersoll
Art creates an atmosphere in which the proprieties, the amenities, and the virtues unconsciously grow. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Art creates an atmosphere in which the proprieties, the amenities, and the virtues unconsciously grow.
— Robert Ingersoll
A great man is a torch in the darkness, a beacon in superstition's night, an inspiration and a prophecy. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
A great man is a torch in the darkness, a beacon in superstition's night, an inspiration and a prophecy.
— Robert Ingersoll Voltaire: A Lecture

greatness

An infinite God ought to be able to protect Himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
An infinite God ought to be able to protect Himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures.
— Robert Ingersoll

religion

After all, the true civilization is where every man gives to every other, every right that he claims for himself. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
After all, the true civilization is where every man gives to every other, every right that he claims for himself.
— Robert Ingersoll in Washington Post

civilization

Every child should be taught that useful work is worship and that intelligent labor is the highest form of prayer. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Every child should be taught that useful work is worship and that intelligent labor is the highest form of prayer.
— Robert Ingersoll How to Reform Mankind

work

Men are not superior by reason of the accidents of race or color. They are superior, who have the best heart, the best brain. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Men are not superior by reason of the accidents of race or color. They are superior, who have the best heart, the best brain.
— Robert Ingersoll

race

When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death—this is heroic. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death—this is heroic.
— Robert Ingersoll

heroism

Intellectual liberty is the air of the soul, the sunshine of the mind, and without it, the world is a prison, the universe is a dungeon. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Intellectual liberty is the air of the soul, the sunshine of the mind, and without it, the world is a prison, the universe is a dungeon.
— Robert Ingersoll

freedom

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. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
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.
— Robert Ingersoll

religion God

Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. In the examination of a great and important question, every one [sic] should be serene, slow-pulsed and calm. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. In the examination of a great and important question, every one [sic] should be serene, slow-pulsed and calm.
— Robert Ingersoll The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

anger

If a man would follow, today, the teachings of the Old Testament, he would be a criminal. If he would follow strictly the teachings of the New, he would be insane. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
If a man would follow, today, the teachings of the Old Testament, he would be a criminal. If he would follow strictly the teachings of the New, he would be insane.
— Robert Ingersoll

Bible religion

Give the church a place in the Constitution, let her touch once more the sword of power, and the priceless fruit of all ages will turn to ashes on the lips of men. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Give the church a place in the Constitution, let her touch once more the sword of power, and the priceless fruit of all ages will turn to ashes on the lips of men.
— Robert Ingersoll

church and state

If by any possibility the existence of a power superior to, and independent of, nature shall be demonstrated, there will then be time enough to kneel. Until then, let us stand erect. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
If by any possibility the existence of a power superior to, and independent of, nature shall be demonstrated, there will then be time enough to kneel. Until then, let us stand erect.
— Robert Ingersoll

God

Nothing discloses real character like the use of power.  It is easy for the weak to be gentle.  Most people can bear adversity.  But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power.  This is the supreme test. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Nothing discloses real character like the use of power.  It is easy for the weak to be gentle.  Most people can bear adversity.  But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power.  This is the supreme test.
— Robert Ingersoll Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln by Distinguished Men of His Time

character power

There is something wrong in a government where they who do the most have the least. There is something wrong when honesty wears a rag, and rascality a robe; when the loving, the tender, eat a crust, while the infamous sit at banquets. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
There is something wrong in a government where they who do the most have the least. There is something wrong when honesty wears a rag, and rascality a robe; when the loving, the tender, eat a crust, while the infamous sit at banquets.
— Robert Ingersoll

equal pay equality

Religion supports nobody. It has to be supported. It produces no wheat, no corn; it ploughs no land; it fells no forests. It is a perpetual mendicant. It lives on the labours of others, and then has the arrogance to pretend that it supports the giver. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Religion supports nobody. It has to be supported. It produces no wheat, no corn; it ploughs no land; it fells no forests. It is a perpetual mendicant. It lives on the labours of others, and then has the arrogance to pretend that it supports the giver.
— Robert Ingersoll

religion

Reason, Observation, and Experience—the Holy Trinity of Science—have taught us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is now, and the way to be happy is to make others so.  This is enough for us.  In this belief we are content to live and die. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
Reason, Observation, and Experience—the Holy Trinity of Science—have taught us that happiness is the only good; that the time to be happy is now, and the way to be happy is to make others so.  This is enough for us.  In this belief we are content to live and die.
— Robert Ingersoll The Gods, and Other Lectures

happiness

When a man really believes that it is necessary to do a certain thing to be happy forever, or that a certain belief is necessary to ensure eternal joy, there is in that man no spirit of concession. He divides the whole world into saints and sinners, into believers and unbelievers, into God's sheep and Devil's goats, into people who will be glorified and people who are damned. - Robert Ingersoll quote.
When a man really believes that it is necessary to do a certain thing to be happy forever, or that a certain belief is necessary to ensure eternal joy, there is in that man no spirit of concession. He divides the whole world into saints and sinners, into believers and unbelievers, into God's sheep and Devil's goats, into people who will be glorified and people who are damned.
— Robert Ingersoll

religion

Reason, Observation, and Experience—the Holy Trinity of Science.
— Robert Ingersoll The Gods, and Other Lectures

science

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments—there are consequences.
— Robert Ingersoll Some Reasons Why

consequences nature