Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) was an American politician and orator. Known as “the great agnostic,” he was a famous critic of the Bible and a proponent of humanistic philosophy and scientific rationalism.
Born in Dresden, New York state, Ingersoll had little formal education. Despite this, he was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1854, and later enjoyed a law practice in Peoria, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
During the Civil War, Ingersoll served as colonel of a Federal cavalry regiment and, in 1867, became State Attorney-General of Illinois. A successful Republican orator, he was also well known for his agnostic lectures attacking Christian beliefs. His heretical religious opinions dissuaded Republican administrations from appointing him to the Cabinet or to the diplomatic posts that he wanted.
Known all over the country as a speaker, Ingersoll was in great demand and received as much as $3,500 for a single evening’s performance. With brilliant oratory and wit, he sought to expose the orthodox superstitions of the times.
Ingersoll wrote several books, including The Gods, and Other Lectures (1876,) Some Mistakes of Moses (1879,) and Why I Am An Agnostic (1896.) His major lectures and speeches are gathered in The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll (12 vols., 1902.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Robert G. Ingersoll
Hope is the only universal liar who never loses his reputation for veracity.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Hope
The Church has always been willing to swap off treasures in heaven for cash down.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Religion
The superior man is the providence of the inferior. He is eyes for the blind, strength for the weak, and a shield for the defenseless. He stands erect by bending above the fallen. He rises by lifting others.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: God, Helpfulness
A believer is a songless bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wings.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Good nature is the cheapest commodity in the world, and love is the only thing that will pay ten percent to both borrower and lender.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Love
In all ages, hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns upon the heads of thieves, called kings.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Hypocrisy
Few rich men own their property; the property owns them.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
The only person entitled to use the imperial ‘we’ in speaking of himself is a king, an editor, and a man with a tapeworm.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Religion
In the republic of mediocrity, genius is dangerous.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Anger, Genius, Mediocrity
My creed is this: Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Belief, Happiness
Happiness is not a reward—it is a consequence. Suffering is not a punishment—it is a result.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Few rich men own their own property. Their property owns them.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Money, Success, Happiness
Labor is the only prayer that Nature answers.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: One liners, Prayer
Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. In the examination of a great and important question, everyone should be serene, slow-pulsed and calm.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Anger
I would rather be a beggar and spend my money like a king, than be a king and spend money like a beggar.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Money
If people are not being told the truth about their problems, the majority not only may, but invariably must, make the wrong judgments.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Truth
The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to himself and to his fellow-men.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Man is a marvelous curiosity … he thinks he is the Creator’s pet … he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes, and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn’t it a quaint idea?
—Robert G. Ingersoll
The true civilization is where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Education
He knew no fear except the fear of doing wrong.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Fear
Every man is dishonest who lives upon the labor of others, no matter if he occupies a throne.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Bravery, Difficulty, Courage, Defeat
Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Tolerance
An honest God is the noblest work of man.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments—there are consequences.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Nature, Realistic Expectations
The present is the necessary product of all the past, the necessary cause of all the future.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: The Present
Justice should remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate.
—Robert G. Ingersoll
Topics: Opportunities, Adversity, Justice, Opportunity, Difficulties
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Robert F. Kennedy American Politician
Earl Warren American Judge
Hugo Black American Politician
Rudy Giuliani American Politician
William Bennett American Politician
Harry Browne American Politician
Horace Greeley American Elected Rep
Wendell Willkie American Politician
Stewart Udall American Politician
Thomas Brackett Reed American Politician