The concept of number is the obvious distinction between the beast and man.

Women have a genius for love; men can only learn the art indifferently.

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.

In the whole vast dome of living nature there reigns an open violence, a kind of prescriptive fury which arms all the creatures to their common doom: as soon as you leave the inanimate kingdom you find the decree of violent death inscribed on the very frontiers of life.

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

Wherever an altar is found, there civilization exists.

It is not the mediocrity of women's education which makes their weakness; it is their weakness which necessarily causes their mediocrity.