The serene, silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the night of God.

The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.

Evil is easy, and has infinite forms.

Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed.

Without the knowledge of our wretchedness, the knowledge of God creates pride. With it, the knowledge of God creates despair. The knowledge of Christ offers a third way, because in him we find both God and our wretchedness.

Let us now speak according to natural lights. If there is a God, He is infinitely incomprehensible. . . . We are then incapable of knowing of either what He is or if He is. . . .

Those are weaklings who know the truth and uphold it as long as it suits their purpose, and then abandon it.