In 1918, Bertrand Russell was sentenced to six months in prison for writing an antiwar essay.

I was much cheered in my arrival by the warder at the gate who had to take particulars about me. He asked my religion and I replied ‘agnostic.’ He asked how to spell it, and remarked with a sigh: ‘Well, there are many religions, but I suppose they all worship the same God.’

“This remark kept me cheerful for about a week.”