Anyone who does not see the vanity of the world is very vain himself. So who does not see it, apart from young people whose lives are all noise, diversions, and thoughts for the future? But take away their diversion and you will see them bored to extinction. Then they feel their nullity without recognizing it, for nothing could be more wretched than to be intolerably depressed as soon as one is reduced to introspection with no means of diversion.

When we wish to correct with advantage, and to show another that he errs, we must notice from what side he views the matter, for on that side it is usually true.

It is natural for the mind to believe and for the will to love; so that, for want of true objects, they must attach themselves to false.

If there were only one religion, God would indeed be manifest.

Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because he shows us both God and our own wretchedness.

The greater intellect one has, the more originality one finds in men. Ordinary persons find no difference between men.

Il n'est pas certain que tout soit incertain. (Translation: It is not certain that everything is uncertain.)