The art of revolutionizing and overturning states is to undermine established customs, by going back to their origin, in order to mark their want of justice.

There is enough light for those who only desire to see, and enough obscurity for those who have a contrary disposition

One must have deeper motives and judge everything accordingly, but go on talking like an ordinary person.

It is not shameful for a man to succumb to pain and it is shameful to succumb to pleasure.

I should not be a Christian but for the miracles.

Man is full of desires: he loves only those who can satisfy them all. "This man is a good mathematician," someone will say. But I have no concern for mathematics; he would take me for a proposition. "That one is a good soldier." He would take me for a besieged town. I need, that is to say, a decent man who can accommodate himself to all my desires in a general sort of way.

All the miseries of mankind come from one thing, not knowing how to remain alone.