Christopher Hitchens quotes

Christopher Hitchens was a British-American author, journalist, and public intellectual known for his sharp wit and outspoken views. Famous for his criticism of religion and his wide-ranging political commentary, he contributed to major publications around the world. He remains celebrated for his fearless debates and thought-provoking essays. Here are 438 of his quotes:

To terrify children with the image of hell, to consider women an inferior creation-is that good for the world?

Christopher Hitchens

Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.

Christopher Hitchens

That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.

Christopher Hitchens

In one way, I suppose, I have been 'in denial' for some time, knowingly burning the candle at both ends and finding that it often gives a lovely light.

Christopher Hitchens

'Bombing Afghanistan back into the Stone Age' was quite a favourite headline for some wobbly liberals. The slogan does all the work. But an instant's thought shows that Afghanistan is being, if anything, bombed out of the Stone Age.

Christopher Hitchens

...those who say I am being punished are saying that god can't think of anything more vengeful than cancer for a heavy smoker.

Christopher Hitchens

Did we not aid the grisly Taliban to achieve and hold power? Yes indeed 'we' did. Well, does that not double or triple our responsibility to remove them from power?

Christopher Hitchens

All the excitements of a prohibited book had their usual effect, one of which, as always, is to expose the fact that the censors don't know what they are talking about.

Christopher Hitchens

I don't think the war in Afghanistan was ruthlessly enough waged.

Christopher Hitchens

The secular state is the guarantee of religious pluralism. This apparent paradox, again, is the simplest and most elegant of political truths.

Christopher Hitchens

Terrorism is the tactic of demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint.

Christopher Hitchens

You have to choose your future regrets.

Christopher Hitchens

That most risky and volatile of all things a self-pitying majority.

Christopher Hitchens

The taming and domestication of religion is one of the unceasing chores of civilization.

Christopher Hitchens

Perhaps the values of socialists can only be realized by socialists in a nonsocialist society.

Christopher Hitchens

Intellectuals never sound more foolish than when posing as the last civilised man.

Christopher Hitchens

My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends.

Christopher Hitchens

A good liar must have a good memory. Kissinger is a stupendous liar with a remarkable memory.

Christopher Hitchens

To the dumb question, 'Why me?' the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply, 'Why not?'

Christopher Hitchens

The man who prays is the one who thinks that god has arranged matters all wrong, but who also thinks that he can instruct god how to put them right.

Christopher Hitchens

To 'choose' dogma and faith over doubt and experience is to throw out the ripening vintage and to reach greedily for the Kool-Aid.

Christopher Hitchens

My own view is that this planet is used as a penal colony, lunatic asylum and dumping ground by a superior civilization, to get rid of the undesirable and unfit. I can't prove it, but you can't disprove it either.

Christopher Hitchens