Robert Ingersoll Quotes

America doesn't know today how proud she ought to be of her Ingersoll. ~ Walt Whitman

Ingersoll is with Homer and Tully and Shakespeare and Burns. ~ William Stewart Ross

I do not think there is a person in this world who has been a more ardent admirer of him than I have been. His life and work have been an inspiration to the whole earth, shedding light in the dark places which so sadly needed light. His memory calls forth my most sincere homage, love, and esteem.

{Burbank on the great Robert Ingersoll, whom he admired so much that he requested Ingersoll's eulogy for his brother, Ebon Ingersoll, to be read at his own funeral} ~ Luther Burbank

Robert Ingersoll came to [a small Midwest town] to speak ... , and after he had gone the question of the divinity of Christ for months occupied the minds of the citizens. ~ Sherwood Anderson

{Letter from Debbs to Eva Ingersoll, husband of Robert Ingersoll, just after the news of Robert's death}

We were inexpressibly shocked to hear of the sudden death of your dear husband and our best loved friend. Most tenderly do we sympathize with you, and all of yours in your great bereavement... Gifted with the rarest genius, in beautiful alliance with his heroism, his kindness and boundless love, he made the name of Ingersoll immortal.

To me, he was an older brother and as I loved him living, so will I cherish his sweet memory forever. ~ Eugene V. Debs

Included among the ecclesiastical works on his bedroom shelves were the writings of "The Great Agnostic," Robert Ingersoll, whom the brothers and Katharine were encouraged to read. "Every mind should be true to itself - should think, investigate and conclude for itself," wrote Ingersoll. It was the influence of Ingersoll apparently that led the brothers to give up regular attendance at church, a change the Bishop seems to have accepted without protest. ~ David McCullough

{Stockton, a playwright who performed plays about Robert Ingersoll, gives the four moments in Ingersoll's life that shaped him, first being the death of his father, who was a reverend}

Despite their opposing religious views, the old revivalist on his deathbed asked Bob to read to him from the black book clutched to his chest. Bob relented, took the book, and was surprised to discover that it wasn't the Bible. It was Plato describing the noble death of the pagan Socrates: a moving gesture of reconciliation between father and son in parting. The second event was Bob's painful realization that his outspoken agnosticism not only invalidated his own political career but ended his brother Ebon's career in Congress, as well. Third was the exquisite anguish of seeing his supportive wife Eva and his young daughters made to suffer for his right to speak his own mind. And fourth was the dramatic tension of having to walk out alone on public stages, in a glaring spotlight, time after time with death threats jammed in his tuxedo pocket informing him that some armed bigot in that night's audience would see to it that he didn't leave the stage alive. ~ Richard F. Stockton

{Debbs' letter to Robert Ingersoll's granddaughter}

I was the friend of your immortal grandfather and I loved him truly… the name of Ingersoll is revered in our home, worshipped by us all, and the date of birth is holy in our calendar... I have never loved another mortal as I have loved Robert Green Ingersoll. ~ Eugene V. Debs

One of the bravest, grandest champions of human liberty the world has ever seen.

{Darrow on the great Robert Ingersoll} ~ Clarence Darrow

As a matter of fact, with all his wit, humor, raillery, persiflage, he was the profoundest logician that ever appealed to the intellect of an American audience. There was logic even in his laughter. He passed the cup of mirth, and in its sparkling foam were found the gems of unanswerable truth.

{Kittredge on the great Robert Ingersoll} ~ Herman E. Kittredge

Shocked? I consider Bob one of the constellations of our time - of our country - America - a bright, magnificent constellation. Besides, all the constellations - not alone of this but of any time - shock the average intelligence for a while. In one respect that helps to prove it a constellation. Think of Voltaire, Paine, Hicks, not to say anything of modern men whom we could mention.

{Whitman's thoughts on his close friend, the great Robert Ingersoll} ~ Walt Whitman

Robert Rauschenberg was not a giant of American art; he was the giant. No American created so many aesthetic openings for so many artists. ~ Jerry Saltz

I'm a lot of things, Spatchcock, but 'beloved-of-law-enforcement' is not one of them. They'll just say that it's my own damn fault again and send me on my way. Besides, the last time I was at a police station I was quite rude to them. I think I threw a lamp at the custody sergeant. Do you have a light? ~ Robert McKelvey

I don't think I have one particular favourite writer. I have many whose works I will always buy or reread - Muriel Spark, Anthony Powell, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ruth Rendell, James Ellroy, William McIlvanney, Kate Atkinson, John Burnside, Louise Welsh, Iain Banks. ~ Ian Rankin

When my book 'Rich Dad's Prophecy' was released in 2002, most financial newspapers and magazines trashed it because I discussed a looming stock market crash. ~ Robert Kiyosaki

LAW 38
Think As You Like But Behave Like Others
If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness. ~ Robert Greene

My first trip to Japan, in 1998, began with an enormous crowd of Japanese paparazzi and television crews, all waiting for me to clear customs in Tokyo (a first-time experience for this wine critic). Over the next five days, the attention never waned. ~ Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Well I guess the plan was to write poetry and publish books and make a living from writing poetry. That was a pretty ambitious plan I guess. ~ Robert Adamson

@bobbybaird i'm a writer, so are you. we try to compose our thoughts and words for effect as well as sense. vain of us? a bit. ~ Walter Kirn

On the whole I consider the constant need for delight and diversion in completely new things to be a sign of pettiness, lack of inner life, of estrangement from nature, and of a mediocre or defective gift of understanding. ~ Robert Walser

Many people hold onto a grudge because it offers the illusion of power and a perverse feeling of security. But in fact, we are held hostage by our anger. It is never too late to forgive. But you can forgive too soon. I am especially wary of what I call "saintly forgiveness." Premature forgiveness is common among people who avoid conflict. They're afraid of their own anger and the anger of others. But their forgiveness is false. Their anger goes underground. I define forgiving as letting someone back into your heart. This returns us to a loving state -- and not merely within the relationship -- we feel good about ourselves and the world. True forgiveness isn't easy, but it transforms us significantly. To forgive is to love and to feel worthy of love. In that sense, it is always worthwhile. ~ Robert Karen

We develop the kind of citizens we deserve. If a large number of our children grow up into frustration and poverty, we must expect to pay the price. ~ Robert Kennedy

I entirely approve the measures proposed by you in relation to the Marines who are lately captives in Tripoli. Therefore execute them. ~ Robert Smith

I met Robert Crumb in 1962; he lived in Cleveland for a while. I took a look at his stuff. Crumb was doing stuff beyond what other writers and artists were doing. It was a step beyond Mad. ~ Harvey Pekar

In his State of the Union speech in January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt declared America's commitment to Four Freedoms in the struggle against Nazi totalitarianism. Among them was the freedom from fear. ~ Robert Dallek

Dare to be honest and fear no labor. ~ Robert Burns

Everything is true; only the opposite is true too; you must believe both equally or be damned. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

I didn't realise I was going to be fighting the whole world. ~ Robert Atkins

The bread and the pastry, the cheeses and wine, and the sugar go into the Supper of the lamb because we do. It is our love that brings the city home. It is I grant you, an incautious and extravagant hope. But only outlandish hopes can make themselves at home. ~ Robert Farrar Capon

You start a question, and it's like starting a stone. You sit quietly on the top of a hill; and away the stone goes, starting others ... ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

The world looks as if it has been left in the custody of trolls. ~ Robert Farrar Capon

Say not "a small event!" Why "small"? Costs it more pain that this ye call A "great event" should come to pass From that? Untwine me from the mass Of deeds which make up life, one deed Power shall fall short in or exceed! ~ Robert Browning

For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient. ~ Robert Breault

During my lifetime I have met dozens of writers and photographers in dozens of different countries. But I have encountered no one who could both write and photograph with the artistry of Robert Vavra. ~ James A. Michener

When you re the only one to do something it always gets done. ~ Robert Newton Peck

I would not let an adult drive my robot. You don't have enough gaming experience. But I will let a kid with no license take control of my vehicle system. ~ Robert Ballard

As for the second notion, the idea that we could lose our freedom by succumbing to a wave of religious hysteria, I am sorry to say that I consider it possible. I hope that it is not probable. But there is a latent deep strain of religious fanaticism in this our culture; it is rooted in our history ~ Robert A. Heinlein

And though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea
Blind stars of fortune
Each have several rays ~ Robert Plant

Being sorry won't get you into heaven. Get happy, son. Get that old spring into your step and stay on your toes. ~ Robert A. Heinlein

Suicide carried off many. Drink and the devil took care of the rest ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

If I had to use a single word to describe what is fundamentally wrong with government today, I would use the word fraud. ~ Robert Higgs

The wine world is so big. Yes, there are styles of wines I don't like. Orange wine, natural wines and low-alcohol wines. Truth is on my side, and history will prove I am right. ~ Robert M. Parker, Jr.

[ ... ] a number of flawed individuals can often add up to a brilliant social unit. ~ Robert Musil

("intelligence" in the military meaning; a man in a suit can be just as stupid as anybody else - only he had better not be), ~ Robert A. Heinlein

A subject emerges from an interaction between my self, my I, and my medium. ~ Robert Motherwell