Robert Green Ingersoll Quotes

Powerful Robert Green Ingersoll for Daily Growth

About Robert Green Ingersoll

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), popularly known as "The Great Agnostic," was a prominent American lawyer, orator, and writer of the 19th century. Born on August 11, 1833, in Dresden, New York, he was the sixth child among eleven siblings. His father, Gideon, was a tanner, and his mother, Polly, a homemaker. Ingersoll showed an early aptitude for public speaking and debating, which ignited his passion for oratory. In 1859, he moved to Illinois and became a partner in the law firm of Ingersoll, Buckingham & Underwood. His legal career took off, but his true calling was in the realm of public speaking. Ingersoll embraced freethought, agnosticism, and championed civil liberties, women's rights, and labor reform. In 1860, he delivered his first speech, "The Allegory of the Pilot," which foreshadowed his style of blending humor, wit, and compelling arguments. His speeches often tackled controversial topics such as religion, morality, and science, earning him the nickname, "The Great Agnostic." Ingersoll's most famous works include "The Gods" (1873), a series of lectures that criticized religious beliefs; "Why I Rejected Christianity" (1879); and "The Liberty of Man, Woman, and Child" (1875), a powerful speech advocating for women's suffrage. Despite facing backlash from religious communities, Ingersoll remained unwavering in his beliefs. He died on July 21, 1899, in Wahoo, Nebraska, having left an indelible mark on American thought and culture. His eloquent speeches continue to be celebrated for their logical reasoning, persuasive arguments, and profound impact on the intellectual landscape of the United States.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We rise by lifting others."

The quote by Robert Green Ingersoll, "We rise by lifting others," underscores the importance of cooperation and mutual support in personal growth and success. It suggests that a key to personal advancement is not just focusing on oneself but extending help and encouragement to others. This idea is rooted in empathy, generosity, and understanding the interconnectedness of humanity. By uplifting others, we create a supportive network that benefits everyone involved, fostering a positive cycle of growth and success. In this way, our personal progress becomes tied to the progress of those around us, reflecting a holistic approach to individual and collective betterment.


"The greatest mystery in the world is not a bird or a bee, it's people. They swarm in multitudes, and each one is a different mystery."

This quote highlights the profound complexity and diversity of human nature. Just as birds and bees are unique species with distinct characteristics, humans too exhibit a remarkable range of personalities, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. Understanding the intricacies of another person can often feel like solving a mystery due to their individuality and unpredictability. It serves as a reminder that we should strive for empathy and understanding towards others, recognizing that each person has a unique story and experiences that shape their thoughts and actions.


"It is better to trust in the slow growth of time than the fast growth of evil."

This quote by Robert Green Ingersoll emphasizes the value of patience, wisdom, and positive progress over hasty actions or unchecked negativity. It suggests that while negative influences may seem to develop quickly, their impact is often destructive and short-lived. On the other hand, the slow, steady growth of time – representing thoughtful decision-making, learning, and personal development – leads to more meaningful and lasting outcomes. In essence, it's a call to prioritize long-term progress over immediate gratification.


"Behind every great religion, you will find love, morality, and truth. But behind all of these, you will also find error, cruelty, and intolerance."

This quote suggests that while major religions often embody positive values like love, morality, and truth, they also have their negative aspects such as error (misconceptions or misinterpretations), cruelty (unjust actions or beliefs), and intolerance (lack of acceptance or understanding). It encourages us to recognize the constructive elements in religion while acknowledging and striving to overcome its destructive aspects.


"The only guarantee of freedom is inrebellion."

This quote suggests that the continued existence of freedom requires acts of rebellion, or resistance against oppression or tyranny. It implies that people must actively challenge any threats to their personal liberty or collective freedoms to preserve them for future generations. In other words, freedom is not something granted or maintained passively; it necessitates ongoing vigilance and the courage to resist when necessary.


This great question of predestination and free will, of free moral agency and accountability, and being saved by the grace of God, and damned for the glory of God, have occupied the mind of what we call the civilized world for many centuries.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Mind, Question, Civilized, Centuries

It is hard to conceive of the utter demoralization, of the political blindness and immorality, of the patriotic dishonesty, of the cruelty and degradation of a people who supplemented the incomparable Declaration of Independence with the Fugitive Slave Law.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Law, Cruelty, Patriotic, Utter

In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Love, Education, No Love, Spite

A good way to make children tell the truth is to tell it yourself. Keep your word with your child the same as you would with your banker.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Tell, Your, Good Way, Your Child

I will live by the standard of reason, and if thinking in accordance with reason takes me to perdition, then I will go to hell with my reason rather than to heaven without it.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Reason, Will, Standard, Perdition

Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Anger, Mind, Which, Lamp

Homes make patriots. He who has sat by his own fireside with wife and children will defend it. Few men have been patriotic enough to shoulder a musket in defense of a boarding house. The prosperity and glory of our country depend upon the number of people who are the owners of homes.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Country, Been, Patriotic, Few Men

Voltaire made up his mind to destroy the superstition of his time. He fought with every weapon that genius could devise or use. He was the greatest of all caricaturists, and he used this wonderful gift without mercy.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Gift, Use, Fought, Devise

When every church becomes a school, every cathedral a university, every clergyman a teacher, and all their hearers brave and honest thinkers, then - and not until then - will the dream of poet, patriot, philanthropist and philosopher become a real and blessed truth.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Church, University, Thinkers, Patriot

Voltaire lighted a torch and gave to others the sacred flame. The light still shines and will as long as man loves liberty and seeks for truth.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Will, Still, Shines, Voltaire

Voltaire! A name that excites the admiration of men, the malignity of priests. Pronounce that name in the presence of a clergyman, and you will find that you have made a declaration of war.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Will, Made, Clergyman, Voltaire

Voltaire, as full of life as summer is full of blossoms, giving his ideas upon all subjects at the expense of prince and king, was exiled to England.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

King, England, Subjects, Voltaire

When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death - that is heroism.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Death, Fate, Veterans Day, Throws

Justice should remove the bandage from her eyes long enough to distinguish between the vicious and the unfortunate.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Unfortunate, Distinguish, Vicious

There are times when a falsehood well told bridges over quite a difficulty, but in the long run, you had better tell the truth, even if you swim the creek.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Tell, Over, Long Run, Bridges

Every man is dishonest who lives upon the labor of others, no matter if he occupies a throne.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Throne, Lives, Every Man, Dishonest

For the most part, we inherit our opinions. We are the heirs of habits and mental customs.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Habits, Part, Most, Heirs

Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought, at least, you are without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and depth; that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Thought, Chain, Surely, Depth

If the guardians of society, the protectors of 'young persons,' could have had their way, we should have known nothing of Byron or Shelley. The voices that thrill the world would now be silent.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Silent, Young, Could, Shelley

The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Courage, Defeat, Test, Bear

Colleges are places where pebbles are polished and diamonds are dimmed.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Diamonds, Places, Pebbles, Polished

Wherever the sword of rebellion is drawn to protect the rights of man, I am a rebel. Wherever the sword of rebellion is drawn to give man liberty, to clothe him in all his just rights, I am on the side of that rebellion.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Rebellion, Give, Side, Sword

I regard the rights of men and women equal. In Love's fair realm, husband and wife are king and queen, sceptered and crowned alike, and seated on the self-same throne.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Love, Queen, King, Seated

All the punishment in the world will not reform a man, unless he knows that he who inflicts it upon him does it for the sake of reformation, and really and truly loves him, and has his good at heart. Punishment inflicted for gratifying the appetite makes man afraid but debases him.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Good, World, Him, Reformation

The true civilization is where every man gives to every other every right that he claims for himself.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Civilization, Other, Himself, Claims

In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Mountains, Clouds, Eternity, Transient

Our government should be entirely and purely secular. The religious views of a candidate should be kept entirely out of sight.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Religious, Kept, Purely, Religious Views

As long as the people persist in voting for or against men on account of their religious views, just so long will hypocrisy hold place and power.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Will, Against, Religious, Religious Views

There are so many societies, so many churches, so many -isms, that it is almost impossible for an independent man to succeed in a political career.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Career, Independent, Almost, Churches

A great man is a torch in the darkness, a beacon in superstition's night, an inspiration and a prophecy.

- Robert Green Ingersoll

Night, Great Man, Beacon, Torch

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