Ludwig Feuerbach

“To theology, ... only what it holds sacred is true, whereas to philosophy, only what holds true is sacred.”

“I would rather be a devil in alliance with truth, than an angel in alliance with falsehood.”

“If therefore my work is negative, irreligious, atheistic, let it be remembered that atheism — at least in the sense of this work — is the secret of religion itself; that religion itself, not...”

“Christianity set itself the goal of fulfilling man’s unattainable desires, but for that very reason ignored his attainable desires. By promising man eternal life, it deprived him of temporal...”

“Though I myself am an atheist, I openly profess religion in the sense just mentioned, that is, a nature religion. I hate the idealism that wrenches man out of nature; I am not ashamed of my...”

“The power of thought is the light of knowledge, the power of will is the energy of character, the power of heart is love. Reason, love and power of will are perfections of man.”

“The task of the modern era was the realization and humanization of God – the transformation and dissolution of theology into anthropology.”

“As we expand our knowledge of good books, we shrink the circle of men whose company we appreciate.”