Justice and truth are two such subtle points, that our tools are too blunt to touch them accurately.

Faith indeed tells what the senses do not tell, but not the contrary of what they see. It is above them and not contrary to them.

The last thing we decide in writing a book is what to put first.

Who can doubt that we exist only to love? Disguise it, in fact, as we will, we love without intermission... We live not a moment exempt from its influence.

All our reasoning boils down to yielding to sentiment.

Lust is the source of all our actions, and humanity.

What use is it to us to hear it said of a man that he has thrown off the yoke that he does not believe there is a God to watch over his actions, that he reckons himself the sole master of his behavior, and that he does not intend to give an account of it to anyone but himself?