“Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his thoughts?”

—  Robert G. Ingersoll

Heretics and Heresies (1874)
Context: Why should man be afraid to think, and why should he fear to express his thoughts?
Is it possible that an infinite Deity is unwilling that a man should investigate the phenomena by which he is surrounded? Is it possible that a god delights in threatening and terrifying men? What glory, what honor and renown a god must win on such a field! The ocean raving at a drop; a star envious of a candle; the sun jealous of a fire-fly.

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Robert G. Ingersoll439
Union United States Army officer 1833–1899

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