I envy animals for two things - their ignorance of evil to come, and their ignorance of what is said about them.

We should be considerate to the living; to the dead we owe only the truth.

As you know, the Inquisition is an admirable and wholly Christian invention to make the pope and the monks more powerful and turn a whole kingdom into hypocrites.

Governments need to have both shepherds and butchers.

A minister of state is excusable for the harm he does when the helm of government has forced his hand in a storm; but in the calm he is guilty of all the good he does not do.

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

Our priests are not what a silly populace supposes; all their learning consists in our credulity.