A German singer! I should as soon expect to get pleasure from the neighing of my horse.

You will certainly grant me that neither antiquity nor whatever nation has devised a more repulsive and blasphemous absurdity than that of eating your God. This is the most disgusting dogma of Christian religion, the greatest insult to the Highest Being, the climax of madness and insanity.

My people and I have come to an agreement which satisfies us both. They are to do what they please, and I am to do what I please.

The greatest and noblest pleasure which we have in this world is to discover new truths, and the next is to shake off old prejudices.

It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.

Little minds try to defend everything at once, but sensible people look at the main point only; they parry the worst blows and stand a little hurt if thereby they avoid a greater one. If you try to hold everything, you hold nothing.

To your care and recommendation am I indebted for having replaced a half-blind mathematician with a mathematician with both eyes, which will especially please the anatomical members of my Academy.