Religion Quotes
Religion is a page where believers and unbelievers share space. Shakespeare and Milton lead, but Robert Ingersoll and the biologist Jerry Coyne are close behind, and the sourced favourites lean sceptical: Bertrand Russell in Sceptical Essays (1928) on moralists and Hell, Bierce in 1911 calling religion a daughter of Hope and Fear.
Three entries are flagged. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep” is credited to the missionary Jim Elliot, and the notes call it a paraphrase of the English clergyman Philip Henry (1631–1696). Newton’s remark that he could calculate the motions of heavenly bodies but not the madness of the people is disputed, and it is usually tied to the South Sea stock bubble. A line about Earth and Heaven credited to David Hare is flagged misattributed.
There is no greater social evil than religion. It is the cancer in the body of humanity.
Every one goes astray, but the least imprudent are they who repent the soonest.
To err is human; but contrition felt for the crime distinguishes the virtuous from the wicked.
But sad as angels for the good man's sin,
Weep to record, and blush to give it in.
It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.
He made it a part of his religion never to say grace to his meat.
Religion stands on tip-toe in our land,
Ready to pass to the American strand.
Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy have ample wages, but truth goes a-begging.
A nation without a religion - that is like a man without breath.
All religions are the same: religion is basically guilt, with different holidays.
Take time enough: all other graces
Will soon fill up their proper places.