Human life is thus only an endless illusion. Men deceive and flatter each other. No one speaks of us in our presence as he does when we are gone. Society is based on mutual hypocrisy.

Let no one say that I have said nothing new... the arrangement of the subject is new. When we play tennis, we both play with the same ball, but one of us places it better.

Instinct teaches us to look for happiness outside ourselves.

According to the doctrine of chance, you ought to put yourself to the trouble of searching for the truth; for if you die without worshiping the True Cause, you are lost. "But," say you, "if He had wished me to worship Him, He would have left me signs of His will." He has done so; but you neglect them. Seek them, therefore; it is well worth it.

We never do evil so effectually as when we are led to do it by a false principle of conscience.

Rivers are roads which move, and which carry us whither we desire to go.

Who knows if this other half of life where we think we're awake is not another sleep a little different from the first.