The so-called Christian nations are the most enlightened and progressive ... but in spite of their religion, not because of it. The Church has opposed every innovation and discovery from the day of Galileo down to our own time, when the use of anesthetic in childbirth was regarded as a sin because it avoided the biblical curse pronounced against Eve. And every step in astronomy and geology ever taken has been opposed by bigotry and superstition. The Greeks surpassed us in artistic culture and in architecture five hundred years before Christian religion was born.

A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes.

Between us, we cover all knowledge; he knows all that can be known and I know the rest.

Optimist: day-dreamer in his small clothes.

Let us consider that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other; it will unriddle many riddles; it will make clear and simple many things which are involved in haunting and harassing difficulties and obscurities now.

To avoid lying, do nothing that needs covering.

Why should anybody want to save the human race, or damn it either? Does God want its society? Does Satan?