When a man is in love, jealous, and just whipped by the Inquisition, he is no longer himself.

A circumstance which has always appeared wonderful to me, is that such sublime discoveries should have been made by the sole assistance of a quadrant and a little arithmetic.

War is the greatest of all crimes; and yet there is no aggressor who does not color his crime with the pretext of justice.

Let us read, and let us dance — these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.

History is the lie commonly agreed upon.

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

Men, generally going with the stream, seldom judge for themselves, and purity of taste is almost as rare as talent.