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I believe in the religion of reason -- the gospel of this world; in the development of the mind, in the accumulation of intellectual wealth, to the end that man may free himself from superstitious fear, to the end that he may take advantage of the forces of nature to feed and clothe the world.
Robert Green Ingersoll
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of reason and intellectual development to overcome fear and improve the human condition.

In this quote, Robert Green Ingersoll advocates for the use of reason as a guiding principle in life. He believes that through the development of our minds and the accumulation of knowledge, humanity can free itself from irrational fears and superstitions. This intellectual empowerment allows us to harness the forces of nature effectively, leading to progress in feeding and clothing the world, thus improving overall human welfare.

Themes

ReasonIntellectualKnowledgeSuperstitionNatureDevelopment

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of education and rational thinking.

More from Robert Green Ingersoll

I will follow my logic, no matter where it goes, after it has consulted with my heart. If you ever come to a conclusion without calling the heart in, you will come to a bad conclusion.
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If the guardians of society, the protectors of 'young persons,' could have had their way, we should have known nothing of Byron or Shelley. The voices that thrill the world would now be silent.
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The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, but a fraud and a curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by a musket is hardly worth making.
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There is no slavery but ignorance.
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In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest monuments sleeps the dust of murder.
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I believe that there is something far nobler than loyalty to any particular man. Loyalty to the truth as we perceive it - loyalty to our duty as we know it - loyalty to the ideals of our brain and heart - is, to my mind, far greater and far nobler than loyalty to the life of any particular man or God. . . .
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