The quotations of

Robert G. Ingersoll

American lawyer, orator, and politician

1833–1899

25 quotes, most often on Anti-Religion, Freedom and Religion.

Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.
- Anti-Religion
Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains.
- Anti-Religion
Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?
“Some Mistakes of Moses” (1879) Section II, “Free Schools”.
- Anti-Religion
Blasphemy is the word that the majority hisses into the ear of the few.
The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Anti-Religion
- Religion
Blasphemy is a padlock which hypocrisy tries to put on the lips of all honest men.
Blasphemy lecture delivered at Brooklyn, N.Y., prior to Ingersoll’s departure for Europe, February 22d, 1885 (reproduced at pg. 105).
- Anti-Religion
- Religion
The present is the necessary product of all the past, the necessary cause of all the future.
What Is Religion? (1899) is Ingersoll’s last public address, delivered before the American Free Religious association, Boston, June 2, 1899
- Time
Whoever increases the sum of human joy, is a worshiper. He who adds to the sum of human misery, is a blasphemer.
The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Happiness
- Religion
What light is to the eyes, what love is to the heart, Liberty is to the soul of man. Without it, there come suffocation, degradation and death.
The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Liberty
Any church that imprisons a man because he has used an argument against its creed, will simply convince the world that it cannot answer the argument.
The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Debate
- Religion
All laws for the purpose of making man worship God, are born of the same spirit that kindled the fires of the auto da fe, and lovingly built the dungeons of the Inquisition.
Some Mistakes of Moses (1879) Section III, “The Politicians”.
- Anti-Religion
- Laws
An infinite God ought to be able to protect himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures.
Some Mistakes of Moses (1879) Section III, “The Politicians”.
Labor is the only prayer that Nature answers; it is the only prayer that deserves an answer, — good, honest, noble work.
The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Prayer
- Work
There is no slavery but ignorance. Liberty is the child of intelligence.
The Liberty of Man, Woman and Child (1877)
- Intelligence
- Liberty
Wait until the world is free before you write a creed.
In this creed there will be but one word — Liberty.
The Liberty of Man, Woman and Child (1877)
- Freedom
- Liberty
Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.
The trial of Charles B. Reynolds for blasphemy (1887)
- Liberty

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