It is the conduct of God, who disposes all things kindly, to put religion into the mind by reason, and into the heart by grace.

Human life is thus only an endless illusion. Men deceive and flatter each other. No one speaks of us in our presence as he does when we are gone. Society is based on mutual hypocrisy.

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

Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.

It is dangerous to explain too clearly to man how like he is to the animals without pointing out his greatness. It is also dangerous to make too much of his greatness without his vileness. It is still more dangerous to leave him in ignorance of both, but it is most valuable to represent both to him. Man must not be allowed to believe that he is equal either to animals or to angels, nor to be unaware of either, but he must know both.

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

Man is so made that if he is told often enough that he is a fool he believes it.