Atheist quotes

Atheist

1.8K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.

1.8K quotes

Explore further

Browse quotes that often appear alongside atheist — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.

Quote collection

Atheist quotes (page 33 of 93)

Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.

Leo Tolstoy Novelist, Philosopher
Atheist

"At one time,' Golenishchev continued, either not observing or not willing to observe that both Anna and Vronsky wanted to speak, 'at one time a freethinker was a man who had been brought up in the conception of religion, law, and morality, who reached freethought only after conflict and difficulty. But now a new type of born freethinkers has appeared, who grow up without so much as hearing that there used to be laws of morality, or religion, that authorities existed. They grow up in ideas of negation in everything - in other words, utter savages."

Read quote 3 likes
Gilbert K. Chesterton Writer, Journalist
Atheist

"There are arguments for atheism, and they do not depend, and never did depend, upon science. They are arguable enough, as far as they go, upon a general survey of life; only it happens to be a superficial survey of life."

Read quote 3 likes
Gore Vidal Writer, Essayist, Playwright
Atheist

"To a born-again atheist like myself, it is clear that each of us has multiple selves, talents, perceptions. But to the Roman Catholic, unity is all."

Read quote 3 likes
Gore Vidal Writer, Essayist, Playwright
Atheist

"Of course his dust would be absorbed in other living things and to that degree at least he would exist again, though it was plain enough that the specific combination which was he would never exist again."

Read quote 3 likes
Noam Chomsky Linguist, Philosopher, Activist
Atheist

"...if you ask me whether or not I'm an atheist, I wouldn't even answer. I would first want an explanation of what it is that I'm supposed not to believe in, and I've never seen an explanation."

Read quote 3 likes
James Thurber Cartoonist, Author
Atheist

"Hundreds of hysterical persons must confuse these phenomena with messages from the beyond and take their glory to the bishop rather than the eye doctor."

Read quote 3 likes
Friedrich Nietzsche Philosopher, Writer
Atheist

"Historical refutation as the definitive refutation.- In former times, one sought to prove that there is no God - today one indicates how the belief that there is a God arose and how this belief acquired its weight and importance: a counter-proof that there is no God thereby becomes superfluous.- When in former times one had refuted the 'proofs of the existence of God' put forward, there always remained the doubt whether better proofs might not be adduced than those just refuted: in those days atheists did not know how to make a clean sweep."

Read quote 3 likes
Friedrich Nietzsche Philosopher, Writer
Atheist

"As is well known, the priests are the most evil enemies—but why? Because they are the most impotent. It is because of their impotence that in them hatred grows to monstrous and uncanny proportions, to the most spiritual and poisonous kind of hatred. The truly great haters in world history have always been priests; likewise the most ingenious haters: other kinds of spirit hardly come into consideration when compared with the spirit of priestly vengefulness."

Read quote 3 likes