Robert Ingersoll
Robert Ingersoll
Robert Green "Bob" Ingersollwas an American lawyer, a Civil War veteran, political leader, and orator of the United States during the Golden Age of Free Thought, noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. He was nicknamed "The Great Agnostic"...
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth11 August 1833
argue dead giving man medicine reason
To argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine to the dead
bible people
The real oppressor, enslaver, and corrupter of the people is the Bible
few men owns property rich
Few rich men own their own property. The property owns them.
according account adam devil eve fulfilled good knowing promise
According to this account the promise of the devil was fulfilled to the very letter, Adam and Eve did not die, and they did become as gods, knowing good and evil
among believe bible found god guidance mount shalt ten thou
It is said that from Mount Sinai God gave, amid thunderings and lightnings, ten commandments for the guidance of mankind; and yet among them is not found Thou shalt believe The Bible
contempt destroy devout except held jews others people save sayings showing wished
There are some of his sayings which show him to have been a devout Jew, others that he wished to destroy Judaism, others showing that he held all people except the Jews in contempt and that the wished to save no others, others showing that he wished
beginning cure diseases medicines million patent plow prayers prevent since uttered worth
To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons, and even patent medicines will cure more diseases than all the prayers uttered since the beginning of the world
age age-and-aging blessed courage individuality stand
It is a blessed thing that in every age someone has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions
believe ceremonies exercise extend forms highways human leap liberties liberty others preach sacrifice strike
You have no right to erect your tollgate upon the highways of thought. You have no right to leap from the hedges of superstition and strike down the pioneers of the human race. You have no right to sacrifice the liberties of man upon the alters of ghosts. Believe what you may; preach what you desire; have all forms and ceremonies you please; exercise your liberty in your own way but extend to all others the same right.
highways
You have no right to erect your toll-gate upon the highways of thought
harmonize ignorant ingenuity stupid
There is not in all the pulpits ingenuity enough to harmonize these ignorant and stupid contradictions
diamonds pebbles polished
A place where pebbles are polished and diamonds are dimmed.
future hell testament
The Old Testament describes the hell of the past, and the New the hell of the future
hope liar loses reputation suppose truthfully universal veracity
I suppose it can be truthfully said that Hope is the only universal liar who never loses his reputation for veracity