Men do not often dare to avow, even to themselves, the slow progress reason has made in their minds; but they are ready to follow it if it is presented to them in a lively and striking manner, and forces them to recognize it.
Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de CondorcetAs the mind learns to understand more complicated combinations of ideas, simpler formulae soon reduce their complexity; so truths that were discovered only by great effort, that could at first only be understood by men capable of profound thought, are soon developed and proved by methods that are not beyond the reach of common intelligence. The strength and the limits of man
Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de CondorcetEnjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.[or you will create disappointment and envy, as every other person has something, small or large, better than you. Remember at these times what you have rather than what you don't and be grateful]
Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de CondorcetI hope to see the bringing together of all the best educated people of the earth into a worldwide Congress of Scientists.
Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de CondorcetThe truth belongs to those who seek it, not to those who claim to own it.
Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de CondorcetIf it is possible to have a linear unit that depends on no other quantity, it would seem natural to prefer it. Moreover, a mensural unit taken from the earth itself offers another advantage, that of being perfectly analogous to all the real measurements that in ordinary usage are also made upon the earth, such as the distance between two places or the area of some tract, for example. It is far more natural in practice to refer geographical distances to a quadrant of a great circle than to the length of a pendulum.
Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet