What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason.

A good action is preferable to an argument.

It is the poverty connected with our species which subordinates one man to another. It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.

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

It is clear that the individual who persecutes a man, his brother, because he is not of the same opinion, is a monster.

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.

Of all religions, the Christian should of course inspire the most tolerance, but until now Christians have been the most intolerant of all men.