Quotes from people born on this date
Thomas Beddoes (1760)
“Man created a God, a Heaven and a Hell.”
—"Thomas Beddoes M.D. 1760–1808: Chemist, Physician, Democrat" by D.A. Stansfield (2012)
George Jacob Holyoake (1817)
“Free thought means fearless thought. It is not deterred by legal penalties, nor by spiritual consequences. Dissent from the Bible does not alarm the true investigator, who takes truth for authority not authority for truth."
—Holyoake, "The Origin and Nature of Secularism" (1896)
Nella Larsen (1891)
"With the obscuring curtain of religion rent, she was able to look about her and see with shocked eyes this thing she had done to herself. She couldn’t, she thought ironically, even blame God for it, now that she knew he didn’t exist."
—Larsen, writing in "Quicksand" about her character Helga Crane (1928)
Stanley Donen (1924)
"Because of my mother I never became religious. I'm an atheist. I don't believe in God. I never did."
—Donen quoted in "Dancing on the Ceiling: Stanley Donen and His Movies" by Stephen Silverman (1996)
Christopher Hitchens (1949)
"Gullibility and credulity are considered undesirable qualities in every department of human life — except religion. ... Atheism strikes me as morally superior, as well as intellectually superior, to religion. Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong."
—Hitchens, "The Lord and the Intellectuals," Harper's (July 1982)
Thomas Jefferson (1743)
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear. ... Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences. If it ends in a belief that there is no God, you will find inducements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise, and the love of others which it will procure you."
—Jefferson's letter to nephew Peter Carr, written from Paris (Aug. 10, 1787)
Freedom From Religion Foundation.
“Man created a God, a Heaven and a Hell.”
—"Thomas Beddoes M.D. 1760–1808: Chemist, Physician, Democrat" by D.A. Stansfield (2012)
George Jacob Holyoake (1817)
“Free thought means fearless thought. It is not deterred by legal penalties, nor by spiritual consequences. Dissent from the Bible does not alarm the true investigator, who takes truth for authority not authority for truth."
—Holyoake, "The Origin and Nature of Secularism" (1896)
Nella Larsen (1891)
"With the obscuring curtain of religion rent, she was able to look about her and see with shocked eyes this thing she had done to herself. She couldn’t, she thought ironically, even blame God for it, now that she knew he didn’t exist."
—Larsen, writing in "Quicksand" about her character Helga Crane (1928)
Stanley Donen (1924)
"Because of my mother I never became religious. I'm an atheist. I don't believe in God. I never did."
—Donen quoted in "Dancing on the Ceiling: Stanley Donen and His Movies" by Stephen Silverman (1996)
Christopher Hitchens (1949)
"Gullibility and credulity are considered undesirable qualities in every department of human life — except religion. ... Atheism strikes me as morally superior, as well as intellectually superior, to religion. Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong."
—Hitchens, "The Lord and the Intellectuals," Harper's (July 1982)
Thomas Jefferson (1743)
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear. ... Do not be frightened from this inquiry by any fear of its consequences. If it ends in a belief that there is no God, you will find inducements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise, and the love of others which it will procure you."
—Jefferson's letter to nephew Peter Carr, written from Paris (Aug. 10, 1787)
Freedom From Religion Foundation.
