All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.

Success in fighting means not coming at your opponent the way he wants to fight you.

Earthly minds, like mud walls, resist the strongest batteries; and though, perhaps, sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they nevertheless stand firm, keep out the enemy, truth, that would captivate or disturbe them.

Certainly great persons had need to borrow other men's opinions to think themselves happy; for if they judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it: but if they think with themselves what other men think of them, and that other men would fain be as they are, then they are happy as it were by report, when, perhaps, they find the contrary within.

In my opinion, understanding who your target audience is, and what they want, and writing to them (and only them!) is the most important component of being successful as an author.

Is it worth the name of freedom to be at liberty to play the fool?

Firmness or stiffness of the mind is not from adherence to truth, but submission to prejudice.