Quotes by Humanists

If you are as happy my dear sir on entering this house as I am in leaving it and returning home you are the happiest man in this country.

Science without conscience is the soul's perdition.

I never sleep comfortably except when I am at sermon or when I pray to God.

We always long for forbidden things k and desire what is denied us.

The widest cause of secularization may be the steady change of thinking so that there is the expectation that reason and a consideration of cause and effect will help with explanations. Supernatural power began to be removed from explanations of the process of life or society in the seventeenth century, and although there may be a nod towards astrology or the crossed finger today, superstition is not seriously used in decision making. ... Scientific thinking, which similarly developed in the seventeenth century, has been influential in bringing this change. We now see that tornadoes and earthquakes have rational explanations in terms of climatology and seismology rather than as divine punishments. Most people when deciding whether to take a new job, embark on a divorce, or simply plan a holiday will not seek divine guidance, but rather discuss with themselves or others the issues of cause and effect.

He who does not desire or fear the uncertain day or capricious fate is equal to the gods above and loftier than mortals.

Plain as a nose in a man's face.

Then I began to think that it is very true which is commonly said that the one-half of the world knoweth not how the other half liveth.

I go to seek a Great Perhaps.

...when I look at and study the ranks of my books - for I have put the name of each author on the binding - I feel as if I am looking at the holy graves of those who wrote them.

The free mind, unafraid of labor, presses on to attain the good.

But as to your writing me that I don’t love you very much, I don’t know whether you’re saying this in earnest or whether I should realise that you’re joking with me. Still, what you say disturbs me. You are measuring a very healthy expression of a wife’s loyalty by the standard of the insincere flattery of well-worn phrases. But I shall love you, my husband. What does it mean to you that you reassure me with those trivial little compliments? Do you want me to believe that you expect me to comb my hair in a stylish fashion for your homecoming? Or to feign adoring looks with a painted face? Let women without means, who worry and have no confidence in their virtue, flutter their eyelashes and play games to gain favour with their husbands. This is the adulation of a fox and the birdlime of deceitful bird hunting. I don’t want to have to buy you at such a price. I’m not a person who lays more stock in words than duty. I am truly your Laura, whose soul is the same one you in turn had hoped for.

We have here other fish to fry.

Half the world does not know how the other half lives.

My poor are my best patients. God pays for them.

If you want to die happily learn to live if you would live happily learn to die.

I never sleep in comfort save when I am hearing a sermon or praying to God.

Man is only miserable so far as he thinks himself so.

I am going to seek a great Perhaps.

There are more old drunkards than old physicians.

I am a scholar and a pupil who has been lulled to sleep by the meagre fire of a mind too humble. I have been too much burned, and my injured mind has accumulated too much passion; for tormenting itself with the defending of our sex, my mind sighs, conscious of its obligation. For all things — those deeply rooted inside us as well as those outside us — are being laid at the door of our sex.In addition, I, who have always held virtue in high esteem and considered private things as secondary importance, shall wear down and exhaust my pen writing against those men who are garrulous and puffed up with false pride. I shall not fail to obstruct tenaciously their treacherous snares. And I shall strive a war of vengeance against the notorious abuse of those who fill everything with noise, since armed with such abuse, certain insane and infamous men bark and bare their teeth in vicious wrath at the republic of women, so worthy of veneration.

If you wish to avoid seeing a fool you must first break your looking-glass.

Nature abhors a vacuum.

He replies nothing but monosyllables. I believe he would make three bites of a cherry.

A fool and his money are soon parted.