Our weapons are the ironic mind against the literal: the open mind against the credulous; the courageous pursuit of truth against the fearful and abject forces who would set limits to investigation (and who stupidly claim that we already have all the truth we need). Perhaps above all, we affirm life over the cults of death and human sacrifice and are afraid, not of inevitable death, but rather of a human life that is cramped and distorted by the pathetic need to offer mindless adulation, or the dismal belief that the laws of nature respond to wailings and incantations.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and intellectualism in combatting ignorance, superstition, and oppressive beliefs. The "weapons" mentioned are not physical, but rather the power of irony, open-mindedness, and courage in the pursuit of truth. It condemns those who restrict the freedom to inquire and learn, asserting that human life should be defined by a celebration of living and the rejection of death-centered ideologies. It urges individuals to break free from mindless adulation and the futile belief that supernatural forces can alter the natural world, emphasizing the need for rationality and enlightenment.

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