Luther Burbank

“In the span of my own lifetime I observed such wondrous progress in plant evolution that I look forward optimistically to a healthy, happy world as soon as its children are taught the principles of simple and rational living.”

“As a scientist, I can not help feeling that all religions are on a tottering foundation. None is perfect or inspired.The idea that a good God would send people to a burning hell is utterly damnable to me. I don't want to have anything to do with such a God.”

“We must return to nature and nature's god.”

“The integrity of one's own mind is of infinitely more value than adherence to any creed or system. We must choose between a dead faith belonging to the past and a living, growing ever-advancing science belonging to the future.”

“The clear light of science teaches us that we must be our own saviors, if we are to be found worth saving.”

“The scientist is a lover of truth for the very love of truth itself, wherever it may lead.”

“Heredity is nothing but stored environment.”

“The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among those who really love truth, justice, charity. It also exhales the musty odor of sanctimony and falsehood.”

“I see humanity now as one vast plant, needing for its highest fulfillment only love, the natural blessings of the great outdoors, and intelligent crossing and selection.”

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”

“Justice, love, truth, peace and harmony, a serene unity with science and the laws of the universe.”

“For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.”

“Most people’s religion is what they want to believe, not what they do believe.”

“Science is knowledge arranged and classified according to truth, facts, and the general laws of nature.”

“Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity, electricity and the unreasonable velocity of light, and also should introduce a clause to prevent the use of the telescope, the microscope and the spectroscope or any other instrument of precision which may in the future be invented, constructed or used for the discovery of truth.”

“If we had paid no more attention to our plants than we have to our children, we would now be living in a jungle of weed.”

“If you violate Nature's laws you are your own prosecuting attorney, judge, jury, and hangman.”

“Science . . . has opened our eyes to the vastness of the universe and given us light, truth and freedom from fear where once was darkness, ignorance and superstition. There is no personal salvation, except through science.”

“Less than fifteen per cent of the people do any original thinking on any subject. The greatest torture in the world for most people is to think.”

“It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.”