The contemplative atheist is rare: a Diagoras, a Bion, a Lucian perhaps, and some others; and yet they seem to be more than they are; for that all that
impugn a received religion, or superstition, are by the adverse part branded with the name of atheists.
And do not let any one
impugn this statement with the trite proverb that "He who builds on the people, builds on the mud," for this is true when a private citizen makes a foundation there, and persuades himself that the people will free him when he is oppressed by his enemies or by the magistrates; wherein he would find himself very often deceived, as happened to the Gracchi in Rome and to Messer Giorgio Scali[+] in Florence.
When he revives he will return to his quarters with a fine tale of his bravery and there will be none to
impugn his boasts--none but I-Gos.
It is a hardy question, fair sir and Boss, since it doth go far to
impugn the wisdom of even our holy Mother Church herself."
Since then, he hath become an active and earnest agitator, a murmurer, and a machinator, and a leader amongst those who
impugn our authority; not considering that the rule is given to the Master even by the symbol of the staff and the rod the staff to support the infirmities of the weak the rod to correct the faults of delinquents.
Not being able to
impugn her beauty, they attacked her costume.
It is not for ME'--Mr Podsnap pointed 'me' forcibly, as adding by implication though it may be all very well for YOU--'it is not for me to
impugn the workings of Providence.
I should have made very short work of any one who had
impugned the authenticity of the poems, but happily there was no one who held the contrary opinion in that village, so far as I knew, or who cared for Ossian, or had even heard of him.
"Why do so many of the media's interrogators feel they have to adopt such a sneering tone as they
impugn the values and motivations of public figures?"
Posing as the victim of malicious, illicit press leaks, Harp complained: "Actions such as this
impugn not only my integrity but also the judgment of FBI and DOJ [Department of Justice] officials in the decision-making process.
When the young wandered from such prescriptions they were sometimes defamed by their elders, as Thomas Prince, Jr., of Boston learned in the 1740s when his newspaper debate with opponents of the Great Awakening revivals occasionally shifted focus to
impugn his manhood.
He did not jump up and down; he did not
impugn Reich's education; he did not shout 'Evidence!