Scientists gladly accept any new truth demonstrated by evidence, that is, proved by the very law of the cosmos. Not so with any new conceptions of religion; these are fought by the use of persecution and venom. Many of the current religious beliefs literally carried into practice would stampede humanity into the old jungle ideas and habits.

— Luther Burbank

The chief trouble with religion has been too much dependence upon names or words. People fail to discriminate. They do not think. Generally people who think for themselves, instead of thinking according to the rules laid down by others, are considered unfaithful to the established order. In that respect I, too, differ with the established order and established designations.

— Luther Burbank

The clear light of science teaches us that we must be our own saviors, if we are to be found worth saving.

— Luther Burbank

The greatest happiness in the world is to make others happy.

— Luther Burbank

The integrity of one's own mind is of infinitely more value than adherence to any creed or system. We must choose between a dead faith belonging to the past and a living, growing ever-advancing science belonging to the future.

— Luther Burbank

The scientist is a lover of truth for the very love of truth itself, wherever it may lead.

— Luther Burbank

The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love.

— Luther Burbank

The word 'religion' has acquired a very bad name among those who really love truth, justice, charity. It also exhales the musty odor of sanctimony and falsehood.

— Luther Burbank

Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity, electricity and the unreasonable velocity of light, and also should introduce a clause to prevent the use of the telescope, the microscope and the spectroscope or any other instrument of precision which may in the future be invented, constructed or used for the discovery of truth.

— Luther Burbank

We must return to nature and nature's god.

— Luther Burbank