Our passions are ourselves.

The dog is a religious animal. In his savage state he worships the moon and the lights that float upon the waters. These are his gods to whom he appeals at night with long-drawn howls.

For a man’s life would become intolerable, if he knew what was going to happen to him. He would be made aware of future evils, and would suffer their agonies in advance, while he would get no joy of present blessings since he would know how they would end. Ignorance is the necessary condition of human happiness, and it has to be admitted that on the whole mankind observes that condition well. We are almost entirely ignorant of ourselves; absolutely of others. In ignorance, we find our bliss; in illusions, our happiness.

It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.

What men call civilization is the condition of present customs; what they call barbarism, the condition of past ones.

What we call strategy is mainly just crossing rivers on bridges and passing mountains though cols.

It is not easy to be a pretty woman without causing mischief.