Everyone endeavors as much as possible to make others love what he loves, and to hate what he hates... This effort to make everyone approve what we love or hate is in truth ambition, and so we see that each person by nature desires that other persons should live according to his way of thinking.

In the state of nature, wrong-doing is impossible ; or, if anyone does wrong, it is to himself, not to another.

It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the world.

Pride is over-estimation of oneself by reason of self-love.

Of all the things that are beyond my power, I value nothing more highly than to be allowed the honor of entering into bonds of friendship with people who sincerely love truth. For, of things beyond our power, I believe there is nothing in the world which we can love with tranquility except such men.

I make this chief distinction between religion and superstition, that the latter is founded on ignorance, the former on knowledge.

I can control my passions and emotions if I can understand their nature