The supreme mystery of despotism, its prop and stay, is to keep men in a state of deception, and with the specious title of religion to cloak the fear by which they must be held in check, so that they will fight for their servitude as if for salvation.

Let unswerving integrity be your watchword.

We are so constituted by Nature that we easily believe the things we hope for, but believe only with difficulty those we fear, and that we regard such things more or less highly than is just. This is the source of the superstitions by which men everywhere are troubled. For the rest, I don

Those who know the true use of money, and regulate the measure of wealth according to their needs, live contented with few things.

As men's habits of mind differ, so that some more readily embrace one form of faith, some another, for what moves one to pray may move another to scoff, I conclude ... that everyone should be free to choose for himself the foundations of his creed, and that faith should be judged only by its fruits.

It is usually the case with most men that their nature is so constituted that they pity those who fare badly and envy those who fare well.

Philosophy has no end in view save truth; faith looks for nothing but obedience and piety.