Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world you must make that attempt. That's morality that's religion. That's art. That's life.

I was 21 in 1968 so I'm as much a child of the '60s as is possible to be. In those years the subject of religion had really almost disappeared the idea that religion was going to be a major force in the life of our societies in the West anyway would have seemed absurd in 1968.

Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.

Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.

The sight of allegedly sophisticated politicians parroting complete tripe trivialises and demeans government and it has to be stopped. It's played a significant part in public disillusionment with politics and has led to the absurd situation where more people vote for 'Strictly Come Dancing' than voted in the general election.

In politics as in religion it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.

Whatsoever is contrary to nature is contrary to reason and whatsoever is contrary to reason is absurd.

Reason is a supple nymph and slippery as a fish by nature. She had as leave give her kiss to an absurdity any day as to syllogistic truth. The absurdity may turn out truer.

It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.

It is as absurd to say that a man can't love one woman all the time as it is to say that a violinist needs several violins to play the same piece of music.