Losses are comparative; imagination only makes them of any moment.

The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of... We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart." - Blaise Pascal

Either God exists or He doesn't. Either I believe in God or I don't. Of the four possibilities, only one is to my disadvantage. To avoid that possibility, I believe in God.

All this visible world is but an imperceptible point in the ample bosom of nature.

You corrupt religion either in favour of your friends, or against your enemies.

[On vanity:] The nose of Cleopatra: if it had been shorter, the face of the earth would have changed.

How comes it that a cripple does not offend us, but a fool does? Because a cripple recognizes that we walk straight, whereas a fool declares that it is we who are silly; if it were not so, we should feel pity and not anger.