"I will not attack your doctrines nor your creeds if they accord liberty to me. If they hold thought to be dangerous - if they aver that doubt is a crime, then I attack them one and all, because they enslave the minds of men"
- Robert G. Ingersoll
About this Quote
This quote by Robert Green Ingersoll talks to the value of flexibility of idea and expression. He is stating that he will not challenge someone's beliefs or religious teachings if they allow him to think and reveal himself easily. However, if those beliefs or doctrines try to limit idea or label doubt as a criminal offense, then he will challenge them. Ingersoll is advocating for the right to think and reveal oneself without fear of punishment or persecution. He is saying that any belief system that tries to manage or restrict thought is wrong and must be challenged. He is likewise stating that any belief system that attempts to manage or limit thought is enslaving the minds of males. Ingersoll's quote is a powerful reminder of the value of flexibility of idea and expression.