If our condition were truly happy, we would not need diversion from thinking of it in order to make ourselves happy.

Discourses on humility are a source of pride in the vain and of humility in the humble. So those on scepticism cause believers to affirm. Few men speak humbly of humility, chastely of chastity, few doubtingly of scepticism.

We run heedlessly into the abyss after putting something in front of us to stop us from seeing it.

Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary.

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

Evil is easily discovered; there is an infinite variety; good is almost unique. But some kinds of evil are almost as difficult to discover as that which we call good; and often particular evil of this class passes for good. It needs even a certain greatness of soul to attain to this, as to that which is good.

Must we kill to prevent there being any wicked? This is to make both parties wicked instead of one.