Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of such great firmness that it can give us courage to walk on it as we should if it were on the ground.

God is favorable to those whom he makes to die by degrees; 'tis the only benefit of old age. The last death will be so much the less painful: it will kill but a quarter of a man or but half a one at most.

I see men ordinarily more eager to discover a reason for things than to find out whether the things are so.

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.

There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself

Obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness.

Every movement reveals us.