Shakespeare's fault is not the greatest into which a poet may fall. It merely indicates a deficiency of taste.

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.

There is no true sovereign except the nation; there can be no true legislator except the people.

No man has received from nature the right to give orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and every individual of the same species has the right to enjoy it as soon as he is in enjoyment of his reason.

It is said that desire is a product of the will, but the converse is in fact true: will is a product of desire.

Do you see this egg? With this you can topple every theological theory, every church or temple in the world.

I discuss with myself questions of politics, love, taste, or philosophy. I let my mind rove wantonly, give it free rein to followany idea, wise or mad that may present itself. My ideas are my harlots.