The most genuine and efficacious charity is that which greases the paws of the priests; such charity covers a multitude of sins.

When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?

What is toleration? It is the prerogative of humanity. We are all steeped in weaknesses and errors: Let us forgive one another's follies, it is the first law of nature.

There are no sects in geometry.

Such then is the human condition, that to wish greatness for one's country is to wish harm to one's neighbors.

The Holy Roman Empire is neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire.

History is only the register of crimes and misfortunes.