I rather live as if God exists to find out that He doesn't than live as if he doesn't exist to find out He does.

Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without a passion, without business, without entertainment, without care.

In each action we must look beyond the action at our past, present, and future state, and at others whom it affects, and see the relations of all those things. And then we shall be very cautious.

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.

Chance gives rise to thoughts, and chance removes them; no art can keep or acquire them.

The exterior must be joined to the interior to obtain anything from God, that is to say, we must kneel, pray with the lips, and soon, in order that proud man, who would not submit himself to God, may be now subject to the creature.

Those who are clever in imagination are far more pleased with themselves than prudent men could reasonably be.