Religion, social status, and property are all sources of power and authority which one man has, to control the liberty of another.

I saw the way to achieve all my dreams. . . . I would found a religion, I saw myself marching on the way to Asia, mounted on an elephant, a turban on my head, and in my hand a new Koran that I would have composed to suit my needs. In my enterprises I would have combined the experiences of the two worlds, exploiting the realm of all history for my own profit.

While just government protects all in their religious rites, true religion affords government its surest support.

Religion is man-made to assist in controlling the weak-minded individuals because during times of atrocity and despair they feel strength in numbers.

There are people who want to make men's lives more difficult for no other reason than the chance it provides them afterwards to offer their prescription for alleviating life; their Christianity, for instance.

If any person raises his hand to strike down another on the ground of religion, I shall fight him till the last breath of my life, both as the head of the government and from the outside.