“Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.”

“The Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the sun, in which they put a man called Christ in the place of the sun, and pay him the adoration originally payed to the sun.”

“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

“Mingling religion with politics may be disavowedand reprobated by every inhabitant of America.”

“Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

“When it can be said by any country in the world, my poor are happy, neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them, my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars, the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive, the rational world is my friend because I am the friend of happiness. When these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and government. Independence is my happiness, the world is my country and my religion is to do good.”

“But with respect to religion itself, without regard to names, and as directing itself from the universal family of mankind to the divine object of adoration, it is man bringing to his maker the fruits of his heart; and though these fruits may differ from each other like the fruits of the earth, the grateful tribute of everyone is accepted.”