Some quotations by Gerrit Smith, an American abolitionist, from around 1859.

"Believing as I do that 'righteousness exalts a nation,' he and he only is a patriot and a servant of his country who does righteously himself and seeks to have others do righteously." --Gerrit Smith

"There is a wide-spread revival of religion in our country. It is not Christianity if it shall allow the rich to stand aloof from the poor, and the people of one complexion to refuse to associate with the people of another." --Gerrit Smith

"The clergy's assumption of an exclusive right to teach religion makes the teachers conceited, dogmatic, arrogant, tyrannical and their hearers lazy in mind and slavish in spirit." --Gerrit Smith

"A great curse is the authority which usurps the place of reason." --Gerrit Smith

"Self-complacency goes far to promote the growth of bad morals." --Gerrit Smith

"Temptation cannot be sin; and the truth is, it is no more a sin to hear whispers and suggestions of evil in our souls than it is for us to hear the wicked-talk of bad men as we pass along the street. The sin comes, in either case, only by our stopping and joining in with them." --Hannah Whitall Smith (An author who wrote several Christian books in the late 1800's, I think.)

"Don't read bad books. Even supposing these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view, let me ask you this: would you drink something you knew was poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup?" --St. John Bosco

"The reading of bad books fills the imagination with bad thoughts. Through the mind the poison passes, and there begets ruin and death." --St. John Baptist de la Sale

"One bad book is capable of corrupting a multitude of people. Should such a book come into your hands, do not look into it, lest you be tempted to read it." --St. John Baptist de la Sale

"Alas, how many hearts have been poisoned by obscene literature. Do not permit anything of this kind to be brought into your home." --St. John Vianney

"Cultivate your own minds and morals; real merit will elevate you." --Maria Stewart

"Talk without effort is nothing." --Maria Stewart

"A God of infinite purity will not regard the prayers of those who hold religion in one hand and prejudice, sin, and pollution in the other." --Maria Stewart

"The frowns of the world shall never discourage me, nor its smiles flatter me; for with the help of God, I am resolved to withstand the fiery darts of the devil, and the assaults of wicked men." --Maria Stewart

Maria Stewart was a run away slave. These statements were written in 1837.

"The worst part is not in making a mistake, but in trying to justify it." --Santiago Ramon y Cajal

"I don't want everyone to like me. I should think less of myself if some people did." --Henry James

"Refusing to have an opinion is a way of having one." --Luigi Pirandello