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Today is the birthday of a forgotten man. In all honesty, I almost forgot about it myself. The man pictured is Robert G. Ingersoll. He lived from 1833 - 1899 and I am of the opinion that he should be more widely regarded (and honored) here in America. His writings helped change the course of my life for the better nearly 10 years ago and I thought I should share a few of my favorite Ingersoll quotes here.

Nothing is greater than to break the chains from the bodies of men — nothing nobler than to destroy the phantom of the soul.
– from an address by Robert G. Ingersoll

The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave, and is a traitor to himself and to his fellow-men.
– The Liberty of Man, Woman and Child

Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?
– Some Mistakes of Moses

If there is a God who will damn his children forever, I would rather go to hell than to go to heaven and keep the society of such an infamous tyrant. I make my choice now. I despise that doctrine. It has covered the cheeks of this world with tears. It has polluted the hearts of children, and poisoned the imaginations of men…. What right have you, sir, Mr. clergyman, you, minister of the gospel to stand at the portals of the tomb, at the vestibule of eternity, and fill the future with horror and with fear? I do not believe this doctrine, neither do you. If you did, you could not sleep one moment. Any man who believes it, and has within his breast a decent, throbbing heart, will go insane. A man who believes that doctrine and does not go insane has the heart of a snake and the conscience of a hyena.
– The Liberty Of All (1877)

Happy birthday, Bob, and thanks.

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