"The United States of America have exhibited, perhaps, the first example of governments erected on the simple principles of nature; and if men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves of artifice, imposture, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history."
(John Adams, Second President of the United States / 1735-1826 / A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America" / 1787-1788)
"Magic, n. An art of converting superstition into coin. There are other arts serving the same high purpose, but the discreet lexicographer does not name them."
(Ambrose Gwinett Bierce / 1842-1914 / The Devil's Dictionary)
"The memory of my own suffering has prevented me from ever shadowing one young soul with the superstitions of the Christian religion."
(Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American suffragist / 1815-1902)
"All religions are ancient monuments to superstition, ignorance, ferocity; and modern religions are only ancient follies."
(Paul-Henri, baron d'Holbach / 1723-1789)
"I have examined all of the known superstitions of the world and I do not find in our superstitions of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all founded on fables and mythology. Christianity has made one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites."
(Thomas Jefferson / 1743-1826)
"Superstition is the only religion of which base souls are capable."
(Joseph Joubert, French Essayist and moralist / 1754-1824)
"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."
(Bertrand Russell / 1872-1970 / Unpopular Essays / 1950)
"Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise mother"
(Voltaire / 1694-1778)
"It is one of the superstitions of the human mind to have imagined that virginity could be a virtue."
(Voltaire / 1694-1778)