The land of marriage has this peculiarity: that strangers are desirous of inhabiting it, while its natural inhabitants would willingly be banished from thence.

The most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds is, in my opinion, conversation.

There is no desire more natural than the desire of knowledge. (Il n'est desir plus naturel que le desir de connaissance)

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

One may disavow and disclaim vices that surprise us and whereto our passions transport us. But those which by long habit are rooted in a strong and anchored in a powerful will are not subject to contradiction. Repentance is but a denying of our will, and an opposition of our fantasies, which diverts us here and there.

I would have every man write what he knows and no more.

Every abridgement of a good book is a fool abridged.