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

Statesman are suspected of plotting against mankind, rather than consulting their interests, and are esteemed more crafty than learned.

We strive to further the occurrence of whatever we imagine will lead to Joy, and to avert or destroy what we imagine is contrary to it, or will lead to Sadness.

All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.

The greater emotion with which we conceive a loved object to be affected toward us, the greater will be our complacency.

Further conceive, I beg, that a stone, while continuing in motion, should be capable of thinking and knowing, that it is endeavoring, as far as it can, to continue to move. Such a stone, being conscious merely of its own endeavor and not at all indifferent, would believe itself to be completely free, and would think that it continued in motion solely because of its own wish. This is that human freedom, which all boast that they possess, and which consists solely in the fact, that men are conscious of their own desire, but are ignorant of the causes whereby that desire has been determined.

Nature is satisfied with little; and if she is, I am also.