It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you have established, according to your fine undertstanding, the limits of truth and falsehood, and it turns out that you must necessarily believe things even stranger than those you deny, you are obliged from then on to abandon these limits.

Socrates thought and so do I that the wisest theory about the gods is no theory at all.

To divert myself from a troublesome fancy, it is but to run to my books; they presently fix me to them, and drive the other out of my thoughts, and do not mutiny to see that I have only recourse to them for want of other more, real, natural, and lively conveniences; they always receive me with the same kindness.

There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself

Intelligence is required to be able to know that a man knows not.

Since we cannot match it let us take our revenge by abusing it.

Report followeth not all goodness, except difficulty and rarity be joined thereto.