Early rising is no pleasure; early drinking's just the measure.

Such is the nature and make-up of the French that they are only good at the start. Then they are worse than devils, but, given time, they're less than women.

Half the world does not know how the other half lives.

I recognize in [my readers] a specific form and individual property, which our predecessors called Pantagruelism, by means of which they never take anything the wrong way that they know to stem from good, honest and loyal hearts.

It is quite a common and vulgar thing among humans to understand, foresee, know and predict the troubles of others. But oh what a rare thing it is to predict, know, foresee and understand one's own troubles.

For God, nothing is impossible. And, if he wanted, in the future women would give birth from their ears.

Misery is the company of lawsuits.