And to think of this great country in danger of being dominated by people ignorant enough to take a few ancient Babylonian legends as the canons of modern culture. Our scientific men are paying for their failure to speak out earlier. There is no use now talking evolution to these people. Their ears are stuffed with Genesis.

— Luther Burbank

As a scientist, I can not help feeling that all religions are on a tottering foundation. None is perfect or inspired. The idea that a good God would send people to a burning hell is utterly damnable to me. I don't want to have anything to do with such a God.

— Luther Burbank

A theory of personal resurrection or reincarnation of the individual is untenable when we but pause to consider the magnitude of the idea. On the contrary, I must believe that rather than the survival of all, we must look for survival only in the spirit of the good we have done in passing through. Once obsolete, an automobile is thrown to the scrap heap. Once here and gone, the human life has likewise served its purpose. If it has been a good life, it has been sufficient. There is no need for another.

— Luther Burbank

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.

— Luther Burbank

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind.

— Luther Burbank

Flowers always make people better happier and more helpful they are sunshine food and medicine to the soul.

— Luther Burbank

Heredity is nothing but stored environment.

— Luther Burbank

I am an infidel today. I do not believe what has been served to me to believe. Furthermore, I am a doubter, a questioner, a skeptic. When it can be proved to me that there is immortality, that there is resurrection beyond the gates of death, then will I believe. Until then, no.

— Luther Burbank

If we cannot meet our everyday surroundings with equanimity and pleasure and grow each day in some useful direction then ... life is on the road toward misfortune misery and destruction.

— Luther Burbank

If we had paid no more attention to our plants than we have to our children, we would now be living in a jungle of weed.

— Luther Burbank