It must be confessed that the inventors of the mechanical arts have been much more useful to men than the inventors of syllogisms.

Let us therefore reject all superstition in order to become more human; but in speaking against fanaticism, let us not imitate the fanatics: they are sick men in delirium who want to chastise their doctors. Let us assuage their ills, and never embitter them, and let us pour drop by drop into their souls the divine balm of toleration, which they would reject with horror if it were offered to them all at once.

I envy animals for two things - their ignorance of evil to come, and their ignorance of what is said about them.

What is madness? To have erroneous perceptions and to reason correctly from them.

Men argue. Nature acts.

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

May God defend me from my friends: I can defend myself from my enemies.