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

Posterity for the philosopher is what the other world is for the religious man.

If there were a reason for preferring the Christian religion to natural religion, it would be because the former offers us, on the nature of God and man, enlightenment that the latter lacks. Now, this is not at all the case; for Christianity, instead of clarifying, gives rise to an infinite multitude of obscurities and difficulties.

The bad gives rise to the good, the good inspires the better, the better produces the excellent, the excellent is followed by the bizarre

Give, but, if possible, spare the poor man the shame of begging.

He whom we call a gentleman is no longer the man of Nature.

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