I talk about the gods, I am an atheist. But I am an artist too, and therefore a liar. Distrust everything I say. I am telling the truth. The only truth I can understand or express is, logically defined, a lie. Psychologically defined, a symbol. Aesthetically defined, a metaphor. (Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Left Hand of Darkness") >> More Ursula K. Le Guin Quotations...
There are, as we know, powerful and illustrious atheists. At bottom, led back to the truth by their very force, they are not absolutely sure that they are atheists; it is with them only a question of definition, and in any case, if they do not believe in God, being great minds, they prove God. (Victor Hugo, "Les Misérables") >> More Victor Hugo Quotations...
Ninety-nine percent of everything that goes on in most Christian churches has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual religion. Intelligent people all notice this sooner or later, and they conclude that the entire one hundred percent is bullshit, which is why atheism is connected with being intelligent in people's minds. (Neal Stephenson, "Snow Crash") >> More Neal Stephenson Quotations...
I said old Jesus probably would've puked if He could see it - all those fancy costumes and all. Sally said I was a sacrilegious atheist. I probably am. The thing Jesus really would've liked would be the guy who plays the kettle drums in the orchestra. (J.D. Salinger, "The Catcher in the Rye") >> More J.D. Salinger Quotations...
Hate not those who reject you, who insult you, who abuse and slander you. Hate not the atheists, the teachers of evil, the materialists--and I mean not only the good ones--for there are many good ones among them, especially in our day--hate not even the wicked ones. (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, "The Brothers Karamazov") >> More Fyodor Dostoyevsky Quotations...
The essence of religious feeling does not come under any sort of reasoning or atheism, and has nothing to do with any crimes or misdemeanors. There is something else here, and there will always be something else - something that the atheists will for ever slur over; they will always be talking of something else. (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, "The Idiot") >> More Fyodor Dostoyevsky Quotations...
I don't worship Catholicism for Catholicism's own sake. I have felt the need to experience a sense of belonging with a religious community, because my parents were convinced atheists. (Lars Trier) >> More Lars Trier Quotations...
Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic uninterestingness as an intellectual position. Where was the ingenuity, the ambiguity, the humanity (in the Harvard sense) of saying that the universe just happened to happen and that when we're dead we're dead. (John Updike) >> More John Updike Quotations...
That helps me get through any tough time in my life. There's so many ways you can run away from it, but when push comes to shove, the truth is going to look you right in the face. You can be an atheist and all that, but when stuff is hitting the fan, it makes you question some things. Things don't just happen. They happen for a reason. (Alan Zemaitis) >> More Alan Zemaitis Quotations...
An atheist is but a mad, ridiculous derider of piety, but a hypocrite makes a sober jest of God and religion he finds it easier to be upon his knees than to rise to a good action. (Alexander Pope) >> More Alexander Pope Quotations...
Atheists in our midst are proof that all consciences can be accommodated here, even those that have no ground for holding that conscience is sacred, inalienable, and prior to civil society. (Michael Novak) >> More Michael Novak Quotations...