Plato used to be my hero because of his allegory of the cave because of the idea of questioning the shadows on the wall. BUT, what I had missed in my college years that Dawkins rightfully brought up in one of his books, I read much later, Plato did not mean look for facts but question to find the "essence" of something. Dawkins basically thinks that meme fucked up future humanity because it was flawed and there is no "essence" in that evolution and universe that is in constant transition. Plato lead humanity to seek utopias and perfection which ended up having a bad influence on religion especially. It shook me when I first read Dawkins criticism of Plato, but it makes tons of sense and explains allot about how even smart people can and far too often do have flawed perceptions. I do believe that criticism is in "The Greatest Show On Earth".
But as far as quotes, Hitchens often brought up the absurdity of a perfect god who "puts an entertainment center into the middle of a sewage system".
And although Jefferson was a deist he valued questioning and had tons to say about the magic and absurdity of religion and the dangers of pulpit politics. "Question with boldness even the existence of a god" is his most famous.
But as far as quotes, Hitchens often brought up the absurdity of a perfect god who "puts an entertainment center into the middle of a sewage system".
And although Jefferson was a deist he valued questioning and had tons to say about the magic and absurdity of religion and the dangers of pulpit politics. "Question with boldness even the existence of a god" is his most famous.