Blessedness is not the reward of virtue but virtue itself.

Desire is the very essence of man

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.

Only free men are thoroughly grateful one 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.

If we love something similar to ourselves, we endeavor, as far as we can, to bring it about that it should love us in return.

The safest way for a state is to lay down the rule that religion is comprised solely in the exercise of charity and justice, and that the rights of rulers in sacred, no less than in secular matters, should merely have to do with actions, but that every man should think what he likes and say what he thinks.