A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. Aristotle
But if cattle and horses or lions had hands, or were able to draw with their hands and do the work that men can do, horses would draw the forms of the gods like horses, and cattle like cattle, and they would make their bodies such as they each had themselves. Xenophanes
Even the most malignant gods would not continue to inflict life upon humanity, time without end. Taylor Caldwell
Happy is he who has gained the wealth of divine thoughts, wretched is he whose beliefs about the gods are dark. Empedocles
He greatly valued his possessions, chiefly because they were his, and derived genuine pleasure from contemplating a painting, a statuette, a rare lace curtain - no matter what - after he had bought it and placed it among his household gods. Kate Chopin
It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself. Epicurus
Men create gods after their own image, not only with regard to their form but with regard to their mode of life. Aristotle
Now as of old the gods give men all good things, excepting only those that are baneful and injurious and useless. These, now as of old, are not gifts of the gods: men stumble into them themselves because of their own blindness and folly. Democritus
Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods.Confucius