Melani

“If perchance a friend should betray you; if he forms a subtle plot to get hold of what is yours; if people should try to spread evil reports about you, would you tamely submit to all this without flying into a rage?”
― Molière, The Misanthrope

“I am a cuddly atheist... I am against creationism being taught in schools because there is empirical evidence that it is a silly notion... I am passionately concerned about the rise in pseudo-science; in beliefs in alternative medicine; in creationism. The idea that somehow it is based on logic, on rational arguments, but it's not. It doesn't stand up to empirical evidence.

In the same way in medicine, alternative medicines like homeopathy or new age therapies – reiki healing – a lot of people buy into it and it grates against my rationalist view of the world. There is no evidence for it. It is deceitful. It is insidious. I feel passionately about living in a society with a rationalist view of the world.

I will be vocal on issues where religion impacts on people's lives in a way that I don't agree with – if, for instance, in faith schools some of the teaching of religion suggests the children might have homophobic views or views that are intolerant towards other belief systems...

I am totally against, for example, bishops in the House of Lords. Why should someone of a particular religious faith have some preferential treatment over anyone else? This notion that the Church of England is the official religion of the country is utterly outmoded now.”
― Jim Al-Khalili

“They say blood is thicker than water. It's also more treacherous, prone to betrayal, full of shit and quite honestly, I wouldn't put much weight into it at all.”
― Ashly Lorenzana

“Some prevailing signs of social climbers are their:
- ticking cunning ambition
- times of deceit
- hand of wickedness
- gloves of bigotry
- hidden bunch of schemes
- cup of pride
- sip of prejudice
- odour of greed
- grit of hatred
Their favorite hunger is comparing themselves to others. A thirst of competition with sloth, jealousy and anger at their spirits.”
― Angelica Hopes, Landscapes of a Heart, Whispers of a Soul