The only thing which consoles for our miseries is diversion, and yet this is the greatest of our miseries. For it is this which principally hinders us from reflecting upon ourselves and which makes us imperceptibly ruin ourselves.

Symmetry is what we see at a glance; based on the fact that there is no reason for any difference.

Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves.

To ridicule philosophy is really to philosophize.

Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because he shows us both God and our own wretchedness.

From whence comes it that a cripple in body does not irritate us, and that a crippled mind enrages us? It is because a cripple sees that we go right, and a distorted mind says that it is we who go astray. But for that we should have more pity and less rage.

All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.