All children are essentially criminal.

First move me, astonish me, break my heart, let me tremble, weep, stare, be enraged-only then regale my eyes.

One must be oneself very little of a philosopher not to feel that the finest privilege of our reason consists in not believing in anything by the impulsion of a blind and mechanical instinct, and that it is to dishonour reason to put it in bonds as the Chaldeans did. Man is born to think for himself.

My friend, you should blow out your candle in order to find your way more clearly.

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

Does not vanity itself cease to be blamable, is it not even ennobled, when it is directed to laudable objects, when it confines itself to prompting us to great and generous actions?

Oh! how near are genius and madness! Men imprison them and chain them, or raise statues to them.