It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason.

Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth.

Parents fear the destruction of natural affection in their children. What is this natural principle so liable to decay? Habit is a second nature, which destroys the first. Why is not custom nature? I suspect that this nature itself is but a first custom, as custom is a second nature.

Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.

When some passion or effect is described in a natural style, we find within ourselves the truth of what we hear, without knowing it was there.

True eloquence makes light of eloquence, true morality makes light of morality; that is to say, the morality of the judgment, which has no rules, makes light of the morality of the intellect.... To make light of philosophy is to be a true philosopher.

Unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just.