The origins of disputes between philosophers is, that one class of them have undertaken to raise man by displaying his greatness, and the other to debase him by showing his miseries.

How vain painting is-we admire the realistic depiction of objects which in their original state we don't admire at all.

Most of the evils of life arise from man's being unable to sit still in a room.

It is certain that those who have the living faith in their hearts see at once that all existence is none other than the work of the God whom they adore. But for those in whom this light is extinguished, [if we were to show them our proofs of the existence of God] nothing is more calculated to arouse their contempt. . . .

All men naturally hate each other. We have used concupiscence as best we can to make it serve the common good, but this is mere sham and a false image of charity, for essentially it is just hate.

The multitude which does not reduce itself to unity is confusion.

Great and small suffer the same mishaps.