I say it is impossible that so sensible a people [citizens of Paris], under such circumstances, should have lived so long by the smoky, unwholesome, and enormously expensive light of candles, if they had really known that they might have had as much pure light of the sun for nothing.

Without justice, courage is weak.

A full Belly is the Mother of all Evil.

A ship under sail and a big-bellied woman, Are the handsomest two things that can be seen common.

Observe all men, thyself most.

Men differ daily about things which are subject to sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible.

Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us. Its appetite grows keener by indulgence and all we can gratify it with at present serves but the more to inflame its insatiable desires.