Nature is never so admired as when she is understood.

To despise theory is to have the excessively vain pretension to do without knowing what one does, and to speak without knowing what one says.

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.

There are three things I have loved but never understood. Art, music and women.

I hate war, for it spoils conversation.

Nature is never so admired as when she is understood.

The judgment may be compared to a clock or watch, where the most ordinary machine is sufficient to tell the hours; but the most elaborate alone can point out the minutes and seconds, and distinguish the smallest differences of time.