100+ Robert G. Ingersoll Quotes on Freedom, Happiness & Truth

On Happiness and Joy

“Happiness is the only good.
The time to be happy is now.
The place to be happy is here.
The way to be happy is to make others so.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The superior man is the providence of the inferior.
He is eyes for the blind, strength for the weak, and a shield for the defenseless.
He stands erect by bending above the fallen.
He rises by lifting others.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The way to be happy is to help make others happy.
The time to be happy is now, and the place to be happy is here.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Happiness is not a reward; it is a consequence.
Suffering is not a punishment; it is a result.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

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

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Love and Kindness

“Love is the only bow on life’s dark cloud.
It is the morning and the evening star.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“There is no darkness but ignorance,
No light but intelligence,
No wealth but happiness,
No joy but love.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Freedom and Liberty

“Liberty is the condition of progress.
Without liberty, there remains only barbarism.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest test of civilization is the condition of the people.
The grandest ambition of a nation should be to make men and women truly free.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“When the rights of even the least are trampled,
The liberty of all is in peril.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“If there be but one slave,
That man is not entirely free.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The history of civilization is the history of free thought.
Progress is born of doubt and inquiry.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Religion and Belief

“If a man would be truly free,
He must be free in thought.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The clergy know that I know that they know that they do not know.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Religion can never reform mankind
Because religion is slavery.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

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

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“There can be but little liberty on earth
While men worship a tyrant in heaven.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Science and Knowledge

“The man who cannot think is less than the man who can.
The man who will not think is traitor to himself.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The more we know, the less we fear.
The more we think, the less we believe.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Science is the only possible savior of mankind.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest wealth of nations is knowledge.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The truth will not make us free
Unless we have the courage to accept it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Life and Death

“In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments—
There are only consequences.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The time to enjoy life is now.
The way to enjoy life is to help others enjoy it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“It is a blessed thing that in every age
Someone has had the courage to stand alone.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The present is the child,
And the future is the mother of thought.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The dead do not suffer.
Weep for the living, not for the dead.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Courage and Strength

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

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest victories are those that are won against ourselves.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“A great man does not seek applause or place;
He seeks for truth,
He seeks the road to happiness,
And what he ascertains, he gives to others.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The bravest thing you can do is think for yourself.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“It is a blessed thing that in every age
Someone has had the courage to stand alone.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Truth and Honesty

“The man who does not do his own thinking is a slave.
The man who fears to think is an intellectual coward.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Honest investigation is never dangerous.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“It is a thousand times better to have common sense
Without education than to have education without common sense.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Every truth has to pass through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“To be true to oneself—
That is the highest form of honesty.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Justice and Fairness

“There will never be a generation of great men
Until there has been a generation of free women.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The hands that help
Are holier than the lips that pray.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The true measure of any society
Is how it treats the weak and defenseless.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“A crime against one
Is a crime against all.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“When injustice becomes law,
Rebellion becomes duty.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Hope and Optimism

“Hope is the only bee
That makes honey without flowers.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The present is the seed,
The future is the flower.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The world is growing kinder every day.
The future will be better than the past.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“A good deed shines in a dark world
Like a single star in the night sky.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Tomorrow will be what we make it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Friendship and Human Connection

“Nothing gives me more pleasure
Than to know that I have made one person’s burden lighter.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“A friend is one
Who doubles our joy and halves our sorrow.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Life is too short
To harbor malice or waste time in useless disputes.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The best way to make friends
Is to be one.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“True friendship asks nothing but honesty,
And gives nothing but kindness.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Success and Ambition

“The first step to success
Is daring to begin.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Nothing great was ever achieved
Without enthusiasm.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Success is not measured by wealth,
But by the joy you bring to others.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The man who dares to think for himself
Will always be ahead of his time.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest ambition is
To leave the world a little better than we found it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Doubt and Inquiry

“Doubt is the beginning of wisdom.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest enemy of truth
Is blind faith.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“If we never question,
We will never learn.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“To accept without questioning
Is to submit without understanding.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The progress of the world
Has always been fueled by doubters.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Life’s Meaning

“The purpose of life
Is to live it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Live while you live!
Do not wait for another world.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The beauty of life
Is in the moments we cherish.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“A day spent in laughter
Is a day well lived.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“To appreciate the present
Is to truly live.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Knowledge and Learning

“The true wealth of a nation is in the knowledge of its people.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The man who reads lives a thousand lives.
The man who does not
Lives only once.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest gift you can give a child
Is the love of learning.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“An ignorant people cannot be truly free.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Knowledge is the food of the soul.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Education and Wisdom

“The best school is the world itself,
And the best teacher is experience.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“To educate the mind without educating the heart
Is to produce a clever fool.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The foundation of every great society
Is an educated people.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“To know what is right is wisdom.
To do what is right is character.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The path of wisdom
Is paved with questions.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Individual Freedom

“The moment a man ceases to think for himself,
He becomes a slave.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The liberty of one
Is the liberty of all.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“No chains are stronger than those forged by fear.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The first step toward freedom
Is the rejection of blind obedience.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“To live for oneself alone
Is not to live at all.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Reason and Logic

“Reason is the only torch
That lights the path to truth.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Faith is believing without evidence.
Reason is believing because of evidence.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The highest religion
Is the religion of reason.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Superstition is the enemy of progress,
And reason is its cure.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The more we reason,
The less we fear.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Tolerance and Open-Mindedness

“No man has the right to impose his beliefs
Upon another.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The path to peace
Is paved with tolerance.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The world is too vast,
And the mind too infinite,
To be confined by dogma.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“If we expect kindness,
We must first give it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The narrow mind
Is the prison of the soul.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

On Integrity and Character

“An honest life
Is the noblest sermon.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“Character is what we do
When no one is watching.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“A man’s worth
Is measured by his deeds, not his words.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The noblest ambition
Is to leave the world better than we found it.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥

“The greatest victory
Is mastery over oneself.”

~ 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐆. 𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐥