Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author

Men rarely (if ever) managed to dream up a god superior to themselves. Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child. -Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (1907-1988)

That's the trouble with dreaming up a god rather than acknowledging God. Very serious consequences follow from idolatry. History, both ancient and modern, is largely made up of the story of these consequences.

Joseph Addison, essayist and poet (1672-1719)

A man's first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart, his next to escape the censures of the world. -Joseph Addison, essayist and poet (1672-1719)

In our day, this advice is a recipe for disaster. In Addison's time a man's heart, or at least an English gentleman's heart, had a good chance of being well formed and so often was a reasonable guide, and the society around him also more often than not condemned what was evil and promoted what was good. Not so today.

Mary Wollstonecraft, reformer and writer

The being cannot be termed rational or virtuous, who obeys any authority, but that of reason. -Mary Wollstonecraft, reformer and writer (1759-1797)

True, but it is often enough the case that the rational and virtuous course of action is to obey a proper authority when one's reason is unsure. In fact, sometimes it is the rational and virtuous course to obey a proper authority even when one's reason suggests another course is better. No one's reason is infallible, and the rational and virtuous person recognizes this and takes it into account.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

All humanity is one undivided and indivisible family, and each one of us is responsible for the misdeeds of all the others. I cannot detach myself from the wickedest soul. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)

In what sense could this be true? God says each man ultimately must pay for his own sins, not those of his father or of his children. On the other hand, there is a real human solidarity that should call from each of us the desire to plead for mercy for us all. Christ demonstrated that decisively on the cross.

Will Durant, historian and philosopher

"Science gives us knowledge, but only philosophy can give us wisdom." -- Will Durant

Really, only God can give us wisdom.

Abigail Adams, U.S, second First Lady

"We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them." -- Abigail Adams

As true today as in Mrs. Adams' time, at least.

Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. -Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)

This statement reveals a rather impoverished understanding of religion and its relationship to ethics. True religion, at least as far as Christianity and Judaism, are concerned, is based on love of God and of God’s creatures. (Dt 6:5, Mt 22:37-40) In other words, a moral person’s actions are motivated by love, not fear of punishment and hope of reward. Moreover, sympathy, education, and social ties are rather weak foundations on which to build an ethical system.

William James

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." -- William James

I agree that this is wisdom, but surely there is more to being wise than that.

George Matthew Adams

"People do not get tired out from working where work is intelligently handled. Work, if it is interesting, is a stimulant." -- George Matthew Adams

Getting bored is not the same getting tired out. Interesting work is indeed a stimulant, but enough of it will still wear you out.