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.

Undoubtedly equality of goods is just; but, being unable to cause might to obey justice, men has made it just to obey might. Unable to strengthen justice, they have justified might--so that the just and the strong should unite, and there should be peace, which is the sovereign good.

I can approve of those only who seek in tears for happiness.

If it is an extraordinary blindness to live without investigating what we are, it is a terrible one to live an evil life, while believing in God

If man should commence by studying himself, he would see how impossible it is to go further.

God only pours out his light into the mind after having subdued the rebellion of the will by an altogether heavenly gentleness which charms and wins it.

Atheism shows strength of mind, but only to a certain degree.