Religion and law try to escape from criticism, religion by saying that it is divine and law by showing that it is powerful.

Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science-the science against which it had vainly struggled-the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.

The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

The weapon of criticism can never replace the criticism of weapons.

Religion is only the illusory sun which revolves round man as long as he does not revolve round himself.

The imaginary flowers of religion adorn man's chains. Man must throw off the flowers, and also the chains.