“The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact than a drunken man is happier than a sober one.”

Pretty funny, even for a talented Stalinist. I don't know that I've ever seen a study on the percentage of happy drunks vs. mean drunks. hmmm But, all that I've ever seen or heard (even from the leftist / godless media) is that the faithful (attempting to follow natural law and understanding forgiveness) are happier than the non-faithful.

And this relates to liberty how?

I've seen some pretty unhappy believers in my time and the happiest person in our neighborhood is an Agnostic. I doubt that believers, on the whole, are any happier than sceptics.

Shaw praised Stalin and the USSR even as they were murdering millions of their own people for no reason. I take nothing that he says seriously.

What Mike said. Nothing that comes out of the mouth of a Stalinist can have any validity.

I've never known a happy drunk.

If I look at this as regarding one's belief in (what's become of) our political system(s) instead of in a particular religion, it takes on a whole new meaning. But I don't like Stalinists either.

Happiness comes from the freedom to believe, not believe, or to say I don't know or I don't care. Those who forcefully try to push people to believe or not believe are the sad ones. So Bob yes freedom of choice is what liberty is all about. I give it one star for being a thought provoking quote.

Love it - typical GBS humor

Whatever Shaw's policial leanings, this quote is right on.