Man in general, if reduced to himself, is too wicked to be free.

It can even come about that a created will cancels out, not perhaps the exertion, but the result of divine action; for in this sense, God himself has told us that God wishes things which do not happen because man does not wish them! Thus the rights of men are immense, and his greatest misfortune is to be unaware of them.

Genius does not seem to derive any great support from syllogisms. Its carriage is free; its manner has a touch of inspiration. We see it come, but we never see it walk.

I do not know what the heart of a rascal may be, but I know what is in the heart of an honest man; it is horrible.

All pain is a punishment, and every punishment is inflicted for love as much as for justice.

In the works of man, everything is as poor as its author; vision is confined, means are limited, scope is restricted, movements are labored, and results are humdrum.

What is needed is not a revolution in the opposite direction, but the opposite of a revolution.