The day for making great fortunes in the Church is past, and the poor youths who now wear the cassock and dream of a mitre make me think of those emigrants who go to distant countries famous through long centuries of plunder, and find them even more poverty-stricken than their own land." "You are right, Gabriel.

The day of the all-powerful Church is past; she has still in her udders milk enough for all, but there are few who can fasten on to them and fill themselves to repletion, while others groan with hunger.

One could die of laughing when one hears of the equality and the democratic spirit of the Church.

It is all a lie; in no other institution does so cruel a despotism reign.

In early days Popes and bishops were elected by the faithful, and were deposed from power if they used it badly.