A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.
Gene RoddenberryRead
I condemn false prophets, I condemn the effort to take away the power of rational decision, to drain people of their free will - and a hell of a lot of money in the bargain. Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all. For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques religion and its impact on rational thinking and free will.
In this quote, Gene Roddenberry expresses a strong disdain for organized religion, arguing that it often undermines rational decision-making and individual autonomy. He suggests that many followers use religion as a mental crutch, which distracts from critical thinking and personal responsibility, ultimately leading to negative consequences for both individuals and society at large.
Themes
ReligionRationalityFree WillCriticismPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a debate on the role of religion in modern society.
More from Gene Roddenberry
All quotes →'Star Trek' episodes always insisted that humanity is on its bumpy way to what will be a glorious future in the 23rd century, in which we will have left most of our old selfishness - and old hatreds and prejudices - far behind us.
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The network told me to get rid of Number One, the woman first lieutenant, and also get rid of 'that Martian fellow'... meaning, of course, Spock. I knew I couldn't keep both, so I gave the stoicism of the female officer to Spock, and married the actress who played Number One. Thank God it wasn't the other way around. I mean Leonard's cute, but...
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For me science fiction is a way of thinking, a way of logic that bypasses a lot of nonsense. It allows people to look directly at important subjects.
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Star Trek says that it has not all happened, it has not all been discovered, that tomorrow can be as challenging and adventurous as any time man has ever lived.
Gene RoddenberryRead
I believe in humanity. We are an incredible species. We're still just a child creature, we're still being nasty to each other. And all children go through those phases. We're growing up, we're moving into adolescence now. When we grow up - man, we're going to be something!
Gene RoddenberryRead
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