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

Force rules the world-not opinion; but it is opinion that makes use of force.

Vanity is so secure in the heart of man that everyone wants to be admired: even I who write this, and you who read this.

Imagination cannot make fools wise, but it makes them happy, as against reason, which only makes its friends wretched: one covers them with glory, the other with shame.

And is it not obvious that, just as it is a crime to disturb the peace when truth reigns, it is also a crime to remain at peace when the truth is being destroyed?

Curiosity is nothing more than vanity. More often than not we only seek knowledge to show it off.

Continuous eloquence wearies.