"I prefer rationalism to atheism. The question of God and other objects-of-faith are outside reason and play no part in rationalism, thus you don't have to waste your time in either attacking or defending."
-Isaac Asimov
"The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts:
Those with brains, but no religion,
And those with religion, but no brains."
-Abu'l-`Ala' al-Ma`arri
"I am not even an atheist so much as I am an antitheist; I not only maintain that all religions are versions of the same untruth, but I hold that the influence of churches, and the effect of religious belief is positively harmful. Reviewing the false claims of religion, I do not wish, as some sentimental materialists affect to wish, that they were true. I do not envy believers their faith. I am relieved to think that the whole story is a sinister fairy tale; life would be miserable if what the faithful affirmed was actually the case."
-Christopher Hitchens
"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government."
- Thomas Jefferson
"In no instance have ... the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people."
- James Madison
"The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity."
- John Adams
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason."
- Benjamin Franklin
Robert Sherman: "Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?"
Bush: "No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
-41st President, George H. W. Bush, father our most completly screwed current president
my favoite one:
"Shake off all 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
blissful ignorance of reason is a sad joke to play on yourself. smart men seek knowledge foolish men are happy to have it given to them.