Surely every human being ought to attain to the dignity of the unit. Surely it is worth while to be one, and to feel that the census of the universe would be incomplete without counting you. Surely there is grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought you are without a chain; that you have the right to explore all heights and all depths; that there are no walls or fences, or prohibited places, or sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought; that your intellect owes no allegiance to any being, human or divine; that you hold all in fee, and upon no condition, and by no tenure, whatsoever; that in the world of mind you are relieved from all personal dictation, and from the ignorant tyranny of majorities. Surely it is worth something to feel that there are no priests, no popes, no parties, no governments, no kings, no gods, to whom your intellect can be compelled to pay a reluctant homage. Surely it is a joy to know that all the cruel ingenuity of bigotry can devise no prison, no dungeon, no cell in which for one instant to confine a thought; that ideas cannot be dislocated by racks, nor crushed in iron boots, nor burned with fire. Surely it is sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and that within its curious bastions and winding halls the soul, in spite of all worlds and all beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself. Robert G. Ingersoll on individuality
It is a blessed thing that in every age someone has had the individuality enough and courage enough to stand by his own convictions. Robert G. Ingersoll on individuality
What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man. Robert G. Ingersoll on liberty
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. Robert Green Ingersoll on courage
It takes time to build a castle Irish Proverb on time
A woman's life is a history of the affections. Washington Irving on affection
There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse! As I have often found in travelling in a stagecoach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position, and be bruised in a new place. Washington Irving on change
A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smil Washington Irving on kindness
Marriage is the torment of one, the felicity of two, the strife and enmity of three. Washington Irving on marriage
A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all. Washington Irving on mother
A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. Washington Irving on women
It is not enough to aim, you must hit. Italian Proverb on success
One man with courage makes a majority. Andrew Jackson on courage
We've removed the ceiling above our dreams. There are no more impossible dreams. Jesse Jackson on dreams
Better risk loss of truth than chance of error. William James on risk
The moral flabbiness born of the exclusive worship of the Bitch-Goddess success. That - with the squalid cash interpretation put on the word success - is our national disease. William James on success
The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. William James on wisdom
Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper. Thomas Jefferson on advertise
Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear. Thomas Jefferson on boldness
Our business is to have great credit and to use it little. Thomas Jefferson on business