The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from Custom.

There are few men who dare to publish to the world the prayers they make to Almighty God.

The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere.

We must learn to suffer what we cannot evade; our life, like the harmony of the world, is composed of contrary things, and one part is no less necessary than the other.

Even in the midst of compassion we feel within I know not what tart sweet titillation of malicious pleasure in seeing others suffer; children have the same feeling.

I seek in the reading of books, only to please myself, by an honest diversion.

The plague of man is the opinion of knowledge. That is why ignorance is so recommended by our religion as a quality suitable to belief and obedience.