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.

It is only when the rich are sick that they fully feel the impotence of wealth.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning.

No European who has tasted savage life can afterwards bear to live in our societies.

Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it.

He that composes himself is wiser than he that composes a book.

Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.