The little word is has its tragedies: it marries and identifies different things with the greatest innocence; and yet no two are ever identical, and if therein lies the charm of wedding them and calling them one, therein too lies the danger.

The quality of wit inspires more admiration than confidence

At best, the true philosopher can fulfil his mission very imperfectly, which is to pilot himself, or at most a few voluntary companions who may find themselves in the same boat.

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.

To be brief is almost a condition of being inspired.

A fanatical imagination cannot regard God as just unless he is represented as infinitely cruel.

The same battle in the clouds will be known to the deaf only as lightning and to the blind only as thunder.