To go beyond the bounds of moderation is to outrage humanity. The greatness of the human soul is shown by knowing how to keep within proper bounds. There are two equally dangerous extremes- to shut reason out, and not to let nothing in.

Description of man: dependence, longing for independence, need.

When I have occasionally set myself to consider the different distractions of men, the pains and perils to which they expose themselves I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.

Most of man's trouble comes from his inability to be still.

The greatness of man is so evident that it is even proved by his wretchedness. For what in animals is nature, we call in man wretchedness--by which we recognize that, his nature being now like that of animals, he has fallen from a better nature which once was his.

We must kill them in war, just because they live beyond the river. If they lived on this side, we would be called murderers.

Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves.