Religion maketh the man.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Religion! what treasure untold resides in that heavenly word!
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
The heathen mythology not only was not true, but was not even supported as true; it not only deserved no faith, but it demanded none.—The very pretension to truth, the very demand of faith, were characteristic distinctions of Christianity.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.
—John Wesley (1703–91) British Methodist Leader, Preacher, Theologian
A man who puts aside his religion because he is going into society, is like one taking off his shoes because he is about to walk upon thorns.
—Richard Cecil
Religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
True religion is the foundation of society, the basis on which all true civil government rests, and from which power derives its authority, laws their efficacy, and both their sanction. If it is once shaken by contempt, the whole fabric cannot be stable or lasting.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
For this reason the Bible is a book of eternal and effective power; because, as long as the world lasts, no one will say: I comprehend it in the whole and understand it in the particular. Rather we must modestly say it on the whole it is venerable, and in the particular practical.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Without religion there can be no true morality.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Indisputably the believers in the gospel have a great advantage over all others, for this simple reason, that, if true, they will have their reward hereafter; and if there be no hereafter, they can but be with the infidel in his eternal sleep, having had the assistance of an exalted hope through life, without subsequent disappointment.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
The best theology is rather a divine life than a divine knowledge.
—Jeremy Taylor
Whether religion be true or false, it must be necessarily granted to be the only wise principle and safe hypothesis for a man to live and die by.
—John Tillotson
Religion is a disease, but it is a noble disease.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Religion is probably, after sex, the second oldest resource which human beings have available to them for blowing their minds.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
Religious ideas have sprung from the same need as all the other achievements of culture: from the necessity for defending itself against the crushing supremacy of nature.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
God’s commandments are intended to enhance the value and enjoyment of life, but not to mar it and make it gloomy.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The Pope? How many divisions has he got?
—Joseph Stalin (1878–1953) Soviet Leader
The Ten Commandments were not a suggestion.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I daresay anything can be made holy by being sincerely worshipped.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
A maker of idols is never an idolater.
—Chinese Proverb
I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-American Philosopher, Poet, Sculptor
True religion and virtue give a cheerful and happy turn to the mind; admit of all true pleasures, and even procure for us the highest.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
The great danger of conversion in all ages has been that when the religion of the high mind is offered to the lower mind, the lower mind, feeling its fascination without understanding it, and being incapable of rising to it, drags it down to its level by degrading it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Many people think they have religion when they are troubled with dyspepsia.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
By religion I mean a set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of life, going beyond or contrary to evidence, and inculcated by methods which are emotional or authoritarian, not intellectual.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The theologian considers sin mainly as an offence against God; the moral philosopher as contrary to reasonableness.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
To know a person’s religion we need not listen to his profession of faith but must find his brand of intolerance.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
I acknowledge myself a unitarian.
—Abigail Adams (1744–1818) American First Lady
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