Quotes from book
Childhood's End

Name: Childhood's End
Author: Arthur C. Clarke

Childhood's End is a 1953 science fiction novel by the British author Arthur C. Clarke. The story follows the peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival begins decades of apparent utopia under indirect alien rule, at the cost of human identity and culture.

“Now I understand,” said the last man.”

Arthur C. Clarke book Childhood's End

Source: Childhood's End

“There were some things that only time could cure. Evil men could be destroyed, but nothing could be done with good men who were deluded.”

Arthur C. Clarke book Childhood's End

Guardian Angel, p. 220
2000s and posthumous publications, The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke (2001)
Source: Childhood's End

“Science is the only religion of mankind.”

Arthur C. Clarke book Childhood's End

Source: Childhood's End

“Utopia was here at last: its novelty had not yet been assailed by the supreme enemy of all Utopias—boredom.”

Arthur C. Clarke book Childhood's End

Source: Childhood's End

“Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets.”

Arthur C. Clarke book Childhood's End

1950s
Source: Childhood's End (1953), p. 15
Context: Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware, the non-existence of Zeus or Thor — but they have few followers now.