If reason be a gift of Heaven, and we can say as much of faith, Heaven has certainly made us two gifts not only incompatible, but in direct contradiction to each other. In order to solve the difficulty, we are compelled to say either that faith is a chimera or that reason is useless.

All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.

We swallow with one gulp the lie that flatters us, and drink drop by drop the truth which is bitter to us.

Gentleness and peacefulness regulate our proceedings; theirs are dictated by fury. We employ reason, they accumulate faggots. They preach nothing but love, and breathe nothing but blood. Their words are humane, but their hearts are cruel.

Anyone who takes it upon himself, on his private authority, to break a bad law, thereby authorizes everyone else to break the good ones.

Scepticism is the first step towards truth.

Doctors are always working to preserve our health and cooks to destroy it, but the latter are the more often successful.