It was truly very good reason that we should be beholden to God only, and to the favour of his grace, for the truth of so noble a belief, since from his sole bounty we receive the fruit of immortality, which consists in the enjoyment of eternal beatitude.... The more we give and confess to owe and render to God, we do it with the greater Christianity.

The finest souls are those that have the most variety and suppleness.

There is nothing of evil in life for him who rightly comprehends that death is no evil; to know how to die delivers us from all subjection and constraint.

There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants.

A man should think less of what he eats and more with whom he eats because no food is so satisfying as good company.

Every place swarms with commentaries; of authors there is great scarcity.

Cowardice is the mother of cruelty.