~ John Dewey:
"The religious is any activity pursued in behalf of an ideal end against obstacles and in spite of threats of personal loss because of its general and enduring value."

~ John Godfrey Saxe:
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

(1887: referring to the Buddhist fable of the Blind Sages and the Elephant, found in the Udana, chapter 6, section 4)

~ Rebecca West:
"Did St. Francis really preach to the birds? Whatever for? If he really liked birds he would have done better to preach to the cats."