No true believer could be intolerant or a persecutor. If I were a magistrate and the law carried the death penalty against atheists, I would begin by sending to the stake whoever denounced another.

Summary

This quote, attributed to French philosopher and writer Montaigne, states that a genuine believer should not exhibit intolerance or engage in persecution. It suggests that if the speaker held a position of authority where atheism was punishable by death, they would prioritize punishing those who accused or pointed fingers at others rather than the atheists themselves. The quote emphasizes the importance of tolerance and opposes any form of discrimination or oppression in the name of religious beliefs.

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