All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our rooms.

Discourses on humility are a source of pride in the vain and of humility in the humble. So those on scepticism cause believers to affirm. Few men speak humbly of humility, chastely of chastity, few doubtingly of scepticism.

Vanity is so anchored in the heart of man that a soldier, a soldier's servant, a cook, a porter brags and wishes to have his admirers. Even philosophers wish for them. Those who write against vanity want to have the glory of having written well; and those who read it desire the glory of having read it. I who write this have perhaps this desire, and perhaps those who will read it.

I can well conceive a man without hands, feet, head. But I cannot conceive man without thought; he would be a stone or a brute.

We are never in search of things, but always in search of the search.

The more I see of Mankind, the more I prefer my dog.

We like security: we like the pope to be infallible in matters of faith, and grave doctors to be so in moral questions so that we can feel reassured.