Evil is easy, and has infinite forms.

When I see the blind and wretched state of men, when I survey the whole universe in its deadness, and man left to himself with no light, as though lost in this corner of the universe without knowing who put him there, what he has to do, or what will become of him when he dies, incapable of knowing anything, I am moved to terror, like a man transported in his sleep to some terrifying desert island, who wakes up quite lost, with no means of escape. Then I marvel that so wretched a state does not drive people to despair.

Force rules the world-not opinion; but it is opinion that makes use of force.

Montaigne is wrong in declaring that custom ought to be followed simply because it is custom, and not because it is reasonable or just.

If we regulate our conduct according to our own convictions, we may safely disregard the praise or censure of others.

The past and present are only our means; the future is always our end. Thus we never really live, but only hope to live.

Thinking too little about things or thinking too much both make us obstinate and fanatical.