Humanist Quotes

Scroll down the page to find quotations from humanists explaining humanism or click on a links in the menu to the left to find other quotes that illustrate the humanist world view.


Humanism is a most human philosophy of life. Its emphasis is on the human, the here-and-now, the humane. It is not a religion and it has no formal creed, though humanists have beliefs. Humanists are atheists or agnostics and do not expect an afterlife. It is essential to humanism that it brings values and meaning into life.


Jim Herrick, Humanism: an introduction








There is no humanist creed, no set of beliefs to which every humanist has to subscribe. Humanism is not a dogma or a human beings we can find from our own resources the shared moral values which we need in order to live together, and the means to create meaningful and fulfilling lives for ourselves.


Richard Norman, On Humanism (Thinking in Action)



The word 'humanism' has more than one meaning—Generally, it implies a desire to think for yourself; to 'do your own thing'; to accept the results of free inquiry, whatever they may be; and to act in accordance with those results, in the light of reason and in co-operation with others, for the promotion of human happiness.


Barbara Smoker, Humanism





Polly Toynbee, President of the BHA



Humanism involves far more than the negation of supernaturalism. It requires an affirmative philosophy...translated into a life devoted to one's own improvement and the service of all mankind.


Corliss Lamont, 1902–1995, philosopher





Linus Pauling, 1901–1994, American scientist, Nobel Prize winner





Kurt Vonnegut, 1922–2007, American novelist



Humanism is the commitment to the use of reason in human affairs, applied in the service of compassion.


Hans Jürgen Eysenck, 1916–1997, psychologist



Humanism is optimistic regarding human nature and confident in human reason and science as the best means of reaching the goal of human fulfillment in this world. Humanists affirm that humans are a product of the same evolutionary process that produced all other living organisms and that all ideas, knowledge, values, and social systems are based upon human experience. Humanists conclude that creative ability and personal responsibility are strongest when the mind is free from supernatural belief and operates in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy.


Author unknown