Frances Wright

Pets, like their owners, tend to expand a little over the Christmas period.

Religion may be defined thus: a belief in, and homage rendered to, existences unseen and causes unknown.

These will vary in every human being but knowledge is the same for every mind, and every mind may and ought to be trained to receive it.

If they exert it not for good, they will for evil if they advance not knowledge, they will perpetuate ignorance.

All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you.

How are men to be secured in any rights without instruction how to be secured in the equal exercise of those rights without equality of instruction? By instruction understand me to mean knowledge - just knowledge not talent, not genius, not inventive mental powers.

Equality is the soul of liberty there is, in fact, no liberty without it.

If we bring not the good courage of minds covetous of truth, and truth only, prepared to hear all things, and decide upon all things, according to evidence, we should do more wisely to sit down contented in ignorance, than to bestir ourselves only to reap disappointment.