Love is like fever; it comes and goes without the will having any part of the process.

The Russians imitate French ways, but always at a distance of fifty years.

If I meet the Christian Deity, I am lost: He is a tyrant and as such, is full of ideas of vengeance; His Bible speaks of nothing but fearful punishments. I never loved Him! I could never even believe that anyone did love Him sincerely. He is devoid of pity.... He will punish me in some abominable manner.

There is no such thing as "natural law": this expression is nothing but old nonsense... Prior to laws, what is natural is only the strength of the lion, or the need of the creature suffering from hunger or cold, in short, need.

The difference breeds hatred.

Love is a well from which we can drink only as much as we have put in, and the stars that shine from it are only our eyes looking in.

At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.