A philospher sees the Earth as a large planet, travelling through the heavens, covered with fools

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.

It takes time to ruin a world, but time is all it takes.

A true philosopher is like an elephant; he never puts the second foot down until the first one is solidly in place.

It is beauty that begins to please, and tenderness that completes the cbarm.

A well-cultivated mind is, so to speak, made up of all the minds of preceding ages; it is only one single mind which has been educated during all this time.

Nothing can be more destructive to ambition, and the passion for conquest, than the true system of astronomy. What a poor thing is even the whole globe in comparison of the infinite extent of nature!