Liberty of thought is the life of the soul.

Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of the time.

Our character is composed of our ideas and our feelings: and, since it has been proved that we give ourselves neither feelings nor ideas, our character does not depend on us. If it did depend on us, there is nobody who would not be perfect. If one does not reflect, one thinks oneself master of everything; but when one does reflect, one realizes that one is master of nothing

For can anything be sillier than to insist on carrying a burden one would continually much rather throw to the ground?

Perfect is the enemy of good.

I loved him as we always love the first time: with idolatry and wild passion.

God created women only to tame men.