Among the arts of conversation no one pleases more than mutual deference or civility, which leads us to resign our own inclinations to those of our companions, and to curb and conceal that presumption and arrogance so natural to the human mind.

Superstition is an enemy to civil liberty.

To philosopher and historian the madness and imbecile wickedness of mankind ought to appear ordinary events.

I never asserted such an absurd thing as that things arise without a cause.

The gazing populace receive greedily, without examination, whatever soothes superstition and promotes wonder.

Nothing endears so much a friend as sorrow for his death. The pleasure of his company has not so powerful an influence.

There is an universal tendency among mankind to conceive all beings like themselves, and to transfer to every object, those qualities, with which they are familiarly acquainted, and of which they are intimately conscious. We find human faces in the moon, armies in the clouds; and by a natural propensity, if not corrected by experience and reflection, ascribe malice or good-will to every thing, that hurts or pleases us.