He who regulates everything by laws, is more likely to arouse vices than reform them.

In regard to intellect and true virtue, every nation is on a par with the rest, and God has not in these respects chosen one people rather than another.

Many errors, of a truth, consist merely in the application of the wrong names of things. For if a man says that the lines which are drawn from the centre of the circle to the circumference are not equal, he understands by the circle, at all events for the time, something else than mathematicians understand by it.

He who has a true idea, knows at that same time that he has a true idea, nor can he doubt concerning the truth of the thing.

The greatest secret of monarchic rule...is to keep men deceived and to cloak in the specious name of religion the fear by which they must be checked, so that they will fight for slavery as they would for salvation, and will think it not shameful, but a most honorable achievement, to give their life and blood that one man may have a ground for boasting.

No to laugh, not to lament, not to detest, but to understand.

Men are especially intolerant of serving and being ruled by, their equals.