So it is the human condition that to wish for the greatness of one's fatherland is to wish evil to one's neighbors. The citizen of the universe would be the man who wishes his country never to be either greater or smaller, richer or poorer.

No opinion is worth burning your neighbor for.

The infinitely little have a pride infinitely great.

Theological religion is the source of all imaginable follies and disturbances. It is the parent of fanaticism and civil discord; it is the enemy of mankind.

Virtuous men alone possess friends.

Common sense is both more rare and more desirable in leaders than mere intelligence.

Pleasure has its time; so too, has wisdom. Make love in thy youth, and in old age attend to thy salvation.