Nature has some perfections to show that she is the image of God, and some defects to show that she is only His image.

Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.

If there were only one religion, God would indeed be manifest.

When we do not know the truth of a thing, it is good that there should exist a common error which determines the mind of man, as, for example, the moon, to which is attributed the change of seasons, the progress of diseases, etc. For the chief malady of man is a restless curiosity about things which he cannot understand; and it is not so bad for him to be in error as to be curious to no purpose.

The arithmetical machine produces effects that approach nearer to thought than all the actions of animals. But it does nothing that would enable us to attribute will to it, as to the animals.

The property of power is to protect.

Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are fools.