Raymond Smullyan Quotes & Sayings

It has always puzzled me that so many people have taken it for granted that God favors those who believe in him. Isn't it possible that the actual God is a scientific God who has little patience with beliefs founded on faith rather than evidence? — Raymond Smullyan

Why do I act as I do? To tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea why. It is simply my nature to act as I act, and that's all I can say. — Raymond Smullyan

Recently, someone asked me if I believed in astrology. He seemed somewhat puzzled when I explained that the reason I don't is that I'm a Gemini. — Raymond Smullyan

I have free will, but not of my own choice. I have never freely chosen to have free will. I have to have free will, whether I like it or not! — Raymond Smullyan

Why should I be worried about dying? It's not going to happen in my lifetime! — Raymond Smullyan

Because I have been a magician for many years, people have often asked me whether I ever have sawn a woman in half. I reply, Oh, yes I've sawn over seventy women in half in my lifetime, and I'm learning the second half of the trick now. — Raymond Smullyan

Some people are always critical of vague statements. I tend rather to be critical of precise statements; they are the only ones which can correctly be labeled 'wrong'. — Raymond Smullyan

All my life I have been intensely repelled by the idea of 'making an effort'. I hate this idea today as much as I did as a child. I don't know why I hate it so much; I just do. — Raymond Smullyan

Metaphysical problems about "mind" versus "matter" arise only from epistemological confusions. — Raymond Smullyan

Why should I be worried about death? ... — Raymond Smullyan

I believe that either Jupiter has life or it doesn't. But I neither believe that it does, nor do I believe that it doesn't. — Raymond Smullyan

Humor could not flourish in a wholly serious and rational atmosphere. — Raymond Smullyan

There is nothing like a naturalistic orientation to dispel all these morbid thoughts of "sin" and "free will" and "moral responsibility. — Raymond Smullyan