He who is involved in ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for reality, and his own imagination for prophesy, is a fanatical novice of great hope and promise, and will soon advance to the higher stage and kill men for the love of God.

The superfluous is the most necessary.

Once the people begin to reason, all is lost

Historians are gossips who tease the dead

Now, now my good man, this is no time to be making enemies." (Voltaire on his deathbed in response to a priest asking him that he renounce Satan.)

History consists of a series of accumulated imaginative inventions.

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