"We are told that God is love. But when we think of love, we think of something soft and gentle. God's love is a consuming fire."

"The only safe rule is to be sure that you are leading a life that would be worth living even if there were no heaven."

"The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

"I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity."

"I am a democrat [believer in democracy] because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason."