Those who make antitheses by forcing the sense are like men who make false windows for the sake of symmetry. Their rule is not to speak justly, but to make accurate figures.

(Man,) the glory and the scandal of the universe.

No man ever believes with a true and saving faith unless God inclines his heart; and no man when God does incline his heart can refrain from believing.

All our life passes in this way: we seek rest by struggling against certain obstacles, and once they are overcome, rest proves intolerable because of the boredom it produces.

Being unable to cure death, wretchedness, and ignorance, men have decided, in order to be happy, not to think about such things.

The supreme function of reason is to show man that some things are beyond reason.

Passion cannot be beautiful without excess; one either loves too much or not enough.