All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.

Instinct teaches us to look for happiness outside ourselves.

Making fun of philosophy is really philosophising.

Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are fools.

Curiosity is only vanity. We usually only want to know something so that we can talk about it.

Curiosity is only vanity. Most frequently we wish not to know, but to talk. We would not take a sea voyage for the sole pleasure of seeing without hope of ever telling.

That which makes us go so far for love is that we never think that we might have need of anything besides that which we love.