He who lives according to the guidance of reason strives as much as possible to repay the hatred, anger, or contempt of others towards himself with love or generosity. ...hatred is increased by reciprocal hatred, and, on the other hand, can be extinguished by love, so that hatred passes into love.

He whose honor depends on the opinion of the mob must day by day strive with the greatest anxiety, act and scheme in order to retain his reputation. For the mob is varied and inconsistent, and therefore if a reputation is not carefully preserved it dies quickly.

Men who are ruled by reason desire nothing for themselves which they would not wish for all mankind.

[Believers] are but triflers who, when they cannot explain a thing, run back to the will of God; this is, truly, a ridiculous way of expressing ignorance.

I saw that all things I feared, and which feared me, had nothing good or bad in them save insofar as the mind was affected by them.

I call him free who is led solely by reason.

Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.