And if there is no god? You act as if there is, and it's the same thing.
Epicurus. . . whose genius surpassed all humankind, extinguished the light of others, as the stars are dimmed by the rising sun.
Religious questions have often led to wicked and impious actions.
Truths kindle light for truths.
The drops of rain make a hole in the stone not by violence but by oft falling.
For as children tremble and fear everything in the blind darkness, so we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be feared than the things children in the dark hold in terror and imagine will come true. This terror therefore and darkness of mind must be dispelled not by the rays of the sun and glittering shafts of day, but by the aspect and law of nature.
. . . Nature allows Destruction nor collapse of aught, until Some outward force may shatter by a blow, Or inward craft, entering its hollow cells, Dissolve it down.
As I look forward, I'm very optimistic about the things I see ahead.
I even move out onto the front porch and see my own limited view of the world. I want to take that world, and for the first time ever, I feel like I can do it. I’ve survived everything I’ve had to so far. I’m still standing here.
My life is not a game that I play to entertain you.
Here's your first problem," he said, pointing at a sentence. "'Religion is the opium of the people. ' Well, I don't know about people, but I think you'll find that the opium of pirates is actual opium.