Let us be well assured of the Matter of Fact, before we trouble our selves with enquiring into the Cause. It is true, that this Method is too slow for the greatest part of Mankind, who run naturally to the Cause, and pass over the Truth of the Matter of Fact.

Women react differently: a French woman who sees herself betrayed by her husband will kill his mistress; an Italian will kill her husband; a Spaniard will kill both; and a German will kill herself.

A work of morality, politics, criticism will be more elegant, other things being equal, if it is shaped by the hand of geometry.

I have lived one hundred years; and I die with the consolation of never having thrown the slightest ridicule upon the smallest virtue.

An educated mind is, as it were, composed of all the minds of preceding ages.

I hate war, for it spoils conversation.

Our sun enlightens the planets that belong to him; why may not every fixed star also have planets to which they give light?