People must have renounced, it seems to me, all natural intelligence to dare to advance that animals are but animated machines.... It appears to me, besides, that such people can never have observed with attention the character of animals, not to have distinguished among them the different voices of need, of suffering, of joy, of pain, of love, of anger, and of all their affections. It would be very strange that they should express so well what they could not feel.

Faith consists in believing what reason cannot.

To enjoy life we must touch much of it lightly.

When he who hears does not know what he who speaks means, and when he who speaks does not know what he himself means, that is philosophy.

What! Have you no monks to teach, to dispute, to govern, to intrigue and to burn people who do not agree with them?

God is not on the side of the big battalions, but on the side of those who shoot best.

Shun idleness. It is rust that attaches itself to the most brilliant metals.