Laws which prescribe what everyone must believe, and forbid men to say or write anything against this or that opinion, are often passed to gratify, or rather to appease the anger of those who cannot abide independent minds.

Everything in nature is a cause from which there flows some effect.

Whatsoever is, is in God, and without God nothing can be, or be conceived.

The more a government strives to curtail freedom of speech, the more obstinately is it resisted; not indeed by the avaricious, ... but by those whom good education, sound morality, and virtue have rendered more free.

A free man, who lives among ignorant people, tries as much as he can to refuse their benefits. .. He who lives under the guidance of reason endeavours as much as possible to repay his fellow's hatred, rage, contempt, etc. with love and nobleness.

I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.

The virtue of a free man appears equally great in refusing to face difficulties as in overcoming them.