Man is a masterpiece of creation . . .

Man is to be found in reason, God in the passions.

We have no words for speaking of wisdom to the stupid. He who understands the wise is wise already.

You believe I run after the strange because I do not know the beautiful; no, it is because you do not know the beautiful that I seek the strange.

Some people come by the name of genius in the same way that certain insects come by the name of centipede -- not because they have a hundred feet, but because most people can't count above 14.

To write brashly about some things, it is almost necessary not to know much about them.

If all mankind were suddenly to practice honesty, many thousands of people would be sure to starve.