“Religion is based ... mainly upon fear ... fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand. My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race.”

“I count religion but a childish toy, and hold there is no sin but ignorance.”

“A little philosophy makes a man an Atheist: a great deal converts him to religion”

“If God were suddenly condemned to live the life which He has inflicted upon men, He would kill Himself.”

“Je puis nier une chose sans me croire obligé de la salir ou de retirer aux autres le droit d'y croire.”

“Anything you're good at contributes to happiness.”

“A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live.”