H. L. Mencken on Freethinking

The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable, and so, if he is a romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not a romantic personally, he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are.

- H. L. Mencken