42 quotes
There are really good sociobiological reasons for why we evolved to cooperate. It really is good for all of us.
Penn Jillette Rapes All the Women He Wants To (2012)
It's a simple statement of fact. When Richard Feynman didn't know, he often worked harder than anyone else to find out, but while he didn't know, he said, "I don't know."
I don't know, so I'm an atheist libertarian (2011)
If you told me right now I could have another eight years of Obama, I would not hesitate to grab at it.
Why Penn Jillette is Terrified of a President Trump (2016)
That's the beauty of the Web: You can roll around in a stranger's obsession without having to smell his or her house. You can amscray whenever you want without being rude. The site gets its "hit" and you know more about our species' diversity.
... if you want to get heavy about it, you can say that every magic show is an exploration of how we determine what’s true.
Penn Jillette Wants to Talk It All Out (2024)
I believe that there is no God. I'm beyond atheism. Atheism is not believing in God. Not believing in God is easy — you can't prove a negative, so there's no work to do
There Is No God (2005)
I do rape all I want. And the amount I want is zero. And I do murder all I want, and the amount I want is zero.
Penn Jillette Rapes All the Women He Wants To (2012)
I disagree with Hillary Clinton on just about everything there is to disagree with a person about. If it comes down to Trump and Hillary, I will put a Hillary Clinton sticker on my fucking car.
Why Penn Jillette is Terrified of a President Trump (2016)
Two things have always been true about human beings. One, the world is always getting better. Two, the people living at that time think it`s getting worse.
It's because you get older, your responsibilities are different. Now I'm taking care of children instead of being a child. It makes the world look scarier. That happens to everyone.
Someone who is paying attention can do the same thing that Trump is doing with hate, and do it with love, and become president … That’s kind of beautiful. There’s nothing more optimistic than that.
Why Penn Jillette is Terrified of a President Trump (2016)
If every trace of any single religion were wiped out and nothing were passed on, it would never be created exactly that way again. There might be some other nonsense in its place, but not that exact nonsense. If all of science were wiped out, it would still be true and someone would find a way to figure it all out again.
God, No!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales (2011)
Trump, who never showed the slightest glimpse of humility.
Interview with David Marchese (2018)
I’m not as nervous about being attacked for it as I am nervous about being wrong. As a good friend of mine said, “I don’t mind being called an asshole — I don’t want to be an asshole.”
Penn Jillette Wants to Talk It All Out (2024)
I have nothing good to say about Donald Trump as president.
Interview with David Marchese (2018)
Technology adds nothing to art. Two thousand years ago, I could tell you a story, and at any point during the story I could stop, and ask, Now do you want the hero to be kidnapped, or not? But that would, of course, have ruined the story. Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.
Without the right to burn the flag, without that freedom of expression, the flag is just a piece of cloth. It means nothing. With that freedom, with our Bill of Rights, it's the greatest symbol on earth. It's magic.
We can argue forever about gun control — whether that’s a good idea or a bad idea, including what the framers thought — but if we can’t agree that the shootings happened, then we can’t talk. I don’t think we’ve ever experienced a time in human history where there wasn’t a shared reality, even if that reality was false.
Penn Jillette Wants to Talk It All Out (2024)
... if you use the word “we,” and you’re not talking about eight billion people, fuck you.
Penn Jillette Wants to Talk It All Out (2024)
Believing there's no God means I can't really be forgiven except by kindness and faulty memories. That's good; it makes me want to be more thoughtful. I have to try to treat people right the first time around.
There Is No God (2005)
Reading the Bible is the fast track to atheism. Reading the Bible means starting at "In the beginning..." and throwing it down with disgust at "...the grace of the lord Jesus be with all. Amen." I'm sure there are lots of religious people who've read the Bible from start to finish and kept their faith, but in my self-selected sample, all the people I know who have done that are atheists.
God, No!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales (2011)