WORDS FROM A GREAT MIND

Robert G. Ingersoll

Lawyer, orator & freethought advocate

Born: 11 August 1833
Died: 21 July 1899
Lived in: New York, Illinois, Washington, D.C. & New York City

Robert G. Ingersoll was an American lawyer, Civil War veteran, and one of the most celebrated public speakers of the nineteenth century. Known as ‘the Great Agnostic’, he lectured widely on reason, science, civil liberties, and human happiness.

A LESSER-KNOWN DETAIL

His voice is among the earliest famous American voices preserved by phonograph. A surviving recording is held by the Library of Congress.

Words by Robert G. Ingersoll

“Happiness is the only good, reason the only torch, justice the only worship, humanity the only religion, and love the only priest.”

Robert G. Ingersoll ↗

“The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so.”

Robert G. Ingersoll ↗

“In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments; there are consequences.”

Robert G. Ingersoll ↗