Individual misfortunes give rise to the general good; so that the more individual misfortunes exist, the more all is fine.

Whenever an important event, a revolution, or a calamity turns to the profit of the church, such is always signalised as the Finger of God.

Everything I see about me is sowing the seeds of a revolution that is inevitable, though I shall not have the pleasure of seeing it. The lightning is so close at hand that it will strike at the first chance, and then there will be a pretty uproar. The young are fortunate, for they will see fine things.

The sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no laws but his caprice.

To really enjoy pleasures, you must know how to leave them.

Originality is nothing but judicious plagiarism.

Earth is an insane asylum, to which the other planets deport their lunatics.