In science, mistakes always precede the truth

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.

That strange premature genius Chatterton has couched in one line the quintessence of what Voltaire has said in many pages: "Reason, a thorn in Revelation's side.

I can forgive injuries, but never benefits.

We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.

[Corneille] was inspired by Roman authors and Roman spirit, Racine with delicacy by the polished court of Louis XIV.

I look upon paradoxes as the impotent efforts of men who, not having capacity to draw attention and celebrity from good sense, fly to eccentricities to make themselves noted.