A hero is someone who rebels or seems to rebel against the facts of existence and seems to conquer them. Obviously that can only work at moments. It can’t be a lasting thing. That’s not saying that people shouldn’t keep trying to rebel against the facts of existence. Someday, who knows, we might conquer death, disease and war.

A person has to be willing to give up everything- not just wealth. All the bullshit that he’s been taught- all society’s brainwashing. You have to let go of all that to get to the other side. Most people aren’t willing to do that.

How can I set free anyone who doesn’t have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it’s a lie – people claim they want to be free – everybody insists that freedom is what they want the most, the most sacred and precious thing a man can possess. But that’s bullshit! People are terrified to be set free – they hold on to their chains. They fight anyone who tries to break those chains. It’s their security…How can they expect me or anyone else to set them free if they don’t really want to be free?

When you meet somebody who claims to be religious, ask them what they really believe. If you meet someone who says he’s Catholic, for example, say: ‘What do you mean? Do you just mean you were baptized Catholic?’ Because I’m not impressed by that… When you met somebody who claims to be Christian, ask her, ask him: ‘What do you really believe?’ And in many cases they will give you an answer that is no more convincing than ‘That I like to be a good person.’… For example, if they say they’re Catholic: ‘Do you really believe that when a priest blesses a wafer, it turns into the body of Christ? Are you seriously telling me you believe that? Are you seriously saying that wine turns into blood?’ Mock them, ridicule them… in public. Don’t fall for the convention that we’re all too polite to talk about religion. Religion is not off the table. Religion is not off limits. Religion makes specific claims about the universe which need to be substantiated and need to be challenged and, if necessary, need to be ridiculed with contempt.

Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will penetrate its deepest mysteries.

People who don’t like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn’t have such funny beliefs.