Never having been able to succeed in the world, he took his revenge by speaking ill of it.

The supposed right of intolerance is absurd and barbaric. It is the right of the tiger; nay, it is far worse, for tigers do but tear in order to have food, while we rend each other for paragraphs.

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.

It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection.

Monsieur l'abbé, I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.

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

The punishment of criminals should be of use; when a man is hanged he is good for nothing.