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.

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.

Nothing in the universe is contingent, but all things are conditioned to exist and operate in a particular manner by the necessity of the divine nature.

[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.

Blessedness is not the reward of virtue but virtue itself.

He who seeks equality between unequals seeks an absurdity.

self-preservation is the primary and only foundation of virtue.