Reason and emotion counsel and supplement each other. Whoever heeds only the one, and puts aside the other, recklessly deprives himself of a portion of the aid granted us for the regulation of our conduct.

All that causes one man to differ from another is a very slight thing. What is it that is the origin of beauty or ugliness, health or weakness, ability or stupidity? A slight difference in the organs, a little more or a little less bile. Yet this more or less is of infinite importance to men; and when they think otherwise they are mistaken.

Men crowd into honorable careers without other vocation than their vanity, or at best their love of fame.

If it is true that vice can never be done away with, the science of government consists of making it contribute to the public good.

Those who can bear all can dare all.

All erroneous ideas would perish of their own accord if given clear expression.

Servitude debases men to the point where they end up liking it.