Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy, inquiry the progress, ignorance the end.

There is no conversation more boring than the one where everybody agrees.

Our truth of nowadays is not what is, but what others can be convinced of; just as we call "money" not only that which is legal, but also any counterfeit that will pass.

There is the name and the thing; the name is a sound which sets a mark on and denotes the thing. The name is no part of the thing nor of the substance; it is an extraneous piece added to the thing, and outside of it.

A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance, if that can be called affection.

Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own.

Of all human and ancient opinions concerning religion, that seems to me the most likely and most excusable, that acknowledged God as an incomprehensible power, the original and preserver of all things, all goodness, all perfection, receiving and taking in good part the honour and reverence that man paid him, under what method, name, or ceremonies soever.