The most successful tempters and thus the most dangerous are the deluded deluders.

It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when mixed with a little physics can hold people's attention and give them a livelier idea of God than do the often ill-applied examples of his wrath.

Many things about our bodies would not seem to us so filthy and obscene if we did not have the idea of nobility in our heads.

After all, is our idea of God anything more than personified incomprehensibility?

Nowadays beautiful women are counted among the talents of their husbands.

The natural scientists of the previous age knew less than we do and believed they were very close to the goal: we have taken very great steps in its direction and now discover we are still very far away from it. With the most rational philosophers an increase in their knowledge is always attended by an increased conviction of their ignorance.

A good part of the fame of most celebrated men is due to the shortsightedness of their admirers