People are ridiculous only when they try or seem to be that which they are not.

The greater part of the people we assign to educate our sons we know for certain are not educated. Yet we do not doubt that they can give what they have not received, a thing which cannot be otherwise acquired.

The end of pain we take as happiness.

The most solid pleasure in this life is the empty pleasure of illusion.

The world laughs at things it would really prefer to admire, and like Aesop's fox it criticizes things it covets.

Real misanthropes are not found in solitude, but in the world; since it is experience of life, and not philosophy, which produces real hatred of mankind.

There's no greater sign of being a poor philosopher and wise man than wanting all of life to be wise and philosophical.