"The human mind is incredibly subtle in inventing an apology for that to which its inclination leads."

"[I]t is perhaps not surprising that men come to regard the happiness which a religious belief affords as proof of its truth. If a creed makes a man feel happy, he almost inevitably adopts it. Such a belief ought to be true; therefore it is true -- such, rightly or wrongly, is one of the 'immediate inferences' of the religious logic used by ordinary men."

"[I]f we simply want to presuppose a belief, rather than rationally thinking about it -- what good is it to have a mind to think with? Some people object to this, saying "How can you question God?" My response is that I'm not at all questioning God; I'm questioning your opinion about God."

"Nature puts no questions and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution."