No religion except ours has taught that man is born in sin; none of the philosophical sects has admitted it; none therefore has spoken the truth

Man is neither angel nor beast.

When a natural discourse paints a passion or an effect, one feels within oneself the truth of what one reads, which was there before, although one did not know it. Hence one is inclined to love him who makes us feel it, for he has not shown us his own riches, but ours. ...such community of intellect that we have with him necessarily inclines the heart to love.

Few friendships would survive if each one knew what his friend says of him behind his back.

As men are not able to fight against death, misery, ignorance, they have taken it into their heads, in order to be happy, not to think of them at all.

All this visible world is but an imperceptible point in the ample bosom of nature.

It has pleased God that divine verities should not enter the heart through the understanding, but the understanding through the heart.