Al-Maʿarri famous quotes

Hanifs (Muslims) are stumbling, Christians all astray Jews wildered, Magians far on error’s way. We mortals are composed of two great schools Enlightened knaves or else religious fools.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Christian #Religious #School

They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the religious traditions or interpreted them!
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Religious #Book #Fiction

O fools, awake! The rites ye sacred hold Are but a cheat contrived by men of old Who lusted after wealth and gained their lust And died in baseness-and their law is dust.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Men #Dust #Law

The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Religious #Intelligent #Men

They all err - Muslims, Christians, Jews and Magians. There are two kinds of humans - the intelligent, who have no religion, and the religious, who have no intellect.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Christian #Religious #Atheist

A little doubt is better than total credulity
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Doubt #Littles #Credulity

Give a drink of water as alms to the birds which go forth at morning, and deem that they have a better right than men [to thy charity]. For their race brings not harm upon thee in any wise, when thou fearest it from thine own race.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Wise #Morning #Men

The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: those with brains, but no religion, and those with religion, but no brains.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Two #Brain #Earth

Reason forbade me many things which, Instinctively, my nature was attracted to; And a perpetual loss I feel if, knowing, I believe a falsehood or deny the truth.
-- Al-Maʿarri

#Believe #Loss #Knowing

There is no kind of experience in which a Christian has a right to refuse to praise God, for 'all things work together for good to them that love God.'

A heathen philosopher once asked a Christian, 'Where is God'? The Christian answered, 'Let me first ask you, Where is He not?'

Misuse of reason might yet return the world to pre-technological night; plenty of religious zealots hunger for just such a result, and are happy to use the latest technology to effect it.

I Am More Spiritual Than Religious; Besides I Am Not A Fanatic

A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.

When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion.

The highest art is always the most religious, and the greatest artist is always a devout person.

Equality is the heart and essence of democracy, freedom, and justice, equality of opportunity in industry, in labor unions, schools and colleges, government, politics, and before the law. There must be no dual standards of justice, no dual rights, privileges, duties, or responsibilities of citizenship. No dual forms of freedom.

I was very unsure about what I wanted to do in high school.

I'm not good for you. I don't know why you make me want you so bad. I was angry with myself when I said all that earlier. I was mad because I wanted you in a way I'd never experienced before. Before you, I just wanted to excel in football and school. I wanted my parents to be proud of me. But now, I want other things too. You get to me in a way I don't understand