69 Quotes by Ernest Renan

Muslims are the first victims of Islam. [...] To liberate the Muslim from his religion is the best service that one can render him.

Muslims are the first victims of Islam. Many times I have observed in my travels in the Orient, that fanaticism comes from a small number of dangerous men who maintain the others in the practice of religion by terror. To liberate the Muslim from his religion is the best service that one can render him.

Islam has been liberal when it has been weak and violent when it has been strong.

The simplest schoolboy is now familiar with truths for which Archimedes would have sacrificed his life.

The oblivion, and I'll say even the historical error, are a key factor in the creation of a nation, to the extent that the progress of historical studies is often a danger to nationality.

Woe to him who becomes useless to human progress!

It is good for everyone to know how to forget.

Our opinions become fixed at the point where we stop thinking.

To conceive the good, in fact, is not sufficient; it must be made to succeed among men. To accomplish this less pure paths must be followed.