Every burned book enlightens the world.

The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most. The power which the sea requires in the sailor makes a man of him very fast, and the change of shores and population clears his head of much nonsense of his wigwam.

Astronomy is a cold, desert science, with all its pompous figures,-depends a little too much on the glass-grinder, too little on the mind. 'T is of no use to show us more planets and systems. We know already what matter is, and more or less of it does not signify.

A man comes to measure his greatness by the regrets, envies and hatreds of his competitors.

When I was praised I lost my time, for instantly I turned around to look at the work I had thought slightly of, and that day I made nothing new.

The revelation of thought takes men out of servitude into freedom.

You shall have joy, or you shall have power, said God; you shall not have both.