what's your favorite athiest quote?

Question

Mine is actually from a my space picture:

The Bible: Because all the works of science cannot equal the wisdom of cattle-sacrificing primatives who thought every animal species in the world lived within walking distance of Noah's house.

These are all so good I can't pick a best one. I will let the thumbs up pick the best answer. I am using these as each as a quote of the day on My Space bulletins.

Thanks guys!

Answer 1

This is probably not really atheist because it does mention God, but not in the usual relligious sense. In any case, I think it is a good quote, with words to live by:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Answer 2

Here's just one of my favorites, which happens to be by Darwin: "As by this theory innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth? The number of intermediate links between all living and extinct species must have been inconceivably great! Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory. The explanation lies, as I believe, in the extreme imperfection of the geological record."

Answer 3

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today." -Issac Asimov

To you, I'm an atheist. To God, I'm the loyal opposition." -can't rember

Faith is believing something you know ain't true." - Mark Twain

"Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense." -- Chapman Cohen

Prayer has no place in the public schools, just like facts have no place in organized religion."- School Superintendent(The Simpsons)

Answer 4

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

Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.
(Thomas Jefferson)

Answer 5

"It's interesting to speculate how it developed that in two of the most anti-feminist institutions, the church and the law court, the men are wearing the dresses."
-Flo Kennedy

That one was for Francine! Here's my fav.

"The most ridiculous concept ever perpetrated by H. Sapiens is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of his creations, that he can be persuaded by their prayers, and becomes petulant if he does not receive this flattery. Yet this ridiculous notion, without one real shred of evidence to bolster it, has gone on to found one of the oldest, largest and least productive industries in history."
-Robert A. Heinlein

Answer 6

This might be more agnostic than atheistic, but I like never the less.

"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones."
~ Marcus Aurelius

Answer 7

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality. -George Bernard Shaw

Answer 8

"An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist believes that deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated."

Madalyn Murray O'Hair

Answer 9

I love yours and hadn't heard it. Thanks.

I think I'll go with "It shall yet be the most remarkable statement about the bible - that there is not one word in praise of intelligence." Susan B. Anthony

Answer 10

What Theists don't realize is that we don't need deity to live good and moral life.

That's one of the answers I get some time ago...
;)

RAmen~!