“The theologians depend on assertions. They have no evidence. They claim that their inspired book is superior to reason and independent of evidence. They talk about probability—analogy—inferences—but they present no evidence. They say that they know that Christ lived, in the same way that they know that Cæsar lived. They might add that they know Moses talked with Jehovah on Sinai the same way they know that Brigham Young talked with God in Utah. The evidence in both cases is the same,—none in either. How do they prove that Christ rose from the dead? They find the account in a book. Who wrote the book? They do not know. What evidence is this? None, unless all things found in books are true.”

— Robert G. Ingersoll

The Truth (1896)

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Robert G. Ingersoll 439

Union United States Army officer 1833–1899

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Translation of the Latin phrase "Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.".
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Variant: "What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." in * 2004