Independence in the end is the fruit of injustice.

Sensual pleasure passes and vanishes, but the friendship between us, the mutual confidence, the delight of the heart, the enchantment of the soul, these things do not perish and can never be destroyed.

If we would destroy the Christian religion, we must first of all destroy man's belief in the Bible.

There are two things for which animals are to be envied: they know nothing of future evils, or of what people say about them.

Life is thickly sown with thorns. I know no other remedy than to pass rapidly over them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes the greater is their power to harm us.

Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time.

I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil.