Without doubt God is the universal moving force, but each being is moved according to the nature that God has given it. He directs angels, man, animals, brute matter, in sum all created things—but each according to its nature—and man having been created free, he is freely led. This rule is truly the eternal law and in it we must believe.

We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

The most dangerous madmen are those created by religion, and people whose aim is to disrupt society always know how to make good use of them.

Kill a man, and you are an assassin. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill everyone, and you are a god.

Whatsoever is, is in God.

If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

Among all nations, through the darkest polytheism glimmer some faint sparks of monotheism.

The Church says that the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in the shadow than in the Church.

Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand.

So long as one believes in God, one has the right to do the Good in order to be moral.

God is a concept by which we measure our pain.

Educate people without religion and you make them but clever devils.

To place oneself in the position of God is painful: being God is equivalent to being tortured. For being God means that one is in harmony with all that is, including the worst. The existence of the worst evils is unimaginable unless God willed them.