And usually [the philosopher] philosophizes either in order to resign himself to life, or to seek some finality in it, or to distract himself and forget his griefs, or for pastime and amusement.

Hell has been conceived as a police institution, to inspire fear in this world. But the worst of it all is that it no longer frightens anyone, and therefore it will have to be closed down.

Anyone who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory.

There is no true love save in suffering, and in this world we have to choose either love, which is suffering, or happiness. Man is the more man - that is, the more divine - the greater his capacity for suffering, or rather, for anguish.

To love with the spirit is to pity, and he who pities most loves most.

What we believe to be the motives of our conduct are usually but the pretexts for it.

Science is a cemetary of dead ideas.