No to laugh, not to lament, not to detest, but to understand.

Desire is the essence of a man.

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.

Only that thing is free which exists by the necessities of its own nature, and is determined in its actions by itself alone.

In the state of nature, wrong-doing is impossible ; or, if anyone does wrong, it is to himself, not to another.

Fame has also this great drawback, that if we pursue it, we must direct our lives so as to please the fancy of men.

Blessed are the weak who think that they are good because they have no claws.