Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.

Marriage has, for its share, usefulness, justice, honour, and constancy; a stale but more durable pleasure. Love is grounded on pleasure alone, and it is indeed more gratifying to the senses, keener and more acute; a pleasure stirred and kept alive by difficulties. There must be a sting and a smart in it. It ceases to be love if it has no shafts and no fire.

When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her.

Life in itself is neither good nor evil, it is the place of good and evil, according to what you make it.

Among the liberal arts, let us begin with the art that liberates us.

Once conform, once do what others do because they do it, and a kind of lethargy steals over all the finer senses of the soul.

Is it not a noble farce, wherein kings, republics, and emperors have for so many ages played their parts, and to which the whole vast universe serves for a theatre?