The multitude which is not brought to act as a unity, is confusion. That unity which has not its origin in the multitude is tyranny.

Those who are clever in imagination are far more pleased with themselves than prudent men could reasonably be.

The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.

There would be too great darkness, if truth had not visible signs.

Our own interests are still an exquisite means for dazzling our eyes agreeably.

Concupiscence and force are the source of all our actions; concupiscence causes voluntary actions, force involuntary ones.

Let us imagine a number of men in chains and all condemned to death, where some are killed each day in the sight of the others, and those who remain see their own fate in that of their fellows and wait their turn, looking at each other sorrowfully and without hope. It is an image of the condition of man.