People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others.

It is man’s natural sickness to believe that he possesses the truth.

Knowlege of God without knowledge of man’s wretchedness leads to pride. Knowledge of man’s wretchedness without knowledge of God leads to despair. Knowledge of Jesus Christ is the middle course, because by it we discover...

The last thing one discovers in composing a work is what to put first.

All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quiet in a room alone.

The knowledge of God without that of man’s misery causes pride. The knowledge of man’s misery without that of God causes despair. The knowledge of Jesus Christ is the middle course, because in Him we...

Le coeur a ses raisons que le raison ne connaît point.

He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright

Just as all things speak about God to those that know Him, and reveal Him to those that love Him, they also hide Him from all those that neither seek nor know Him.

Since we cannot know all there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.

The art of opposition and of revolution is to unsettle established customs, sounding them even to their source, to point out their want of authority and justice.

Finally, let them recognise that there are two kinds of people one can call reasonable; those who serve God with all their heart because they know Him, and those who seek Him with all their...

Men seek rest in a struggle against difficulties; and when they have conquered these, rest becomes insufferable.

Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth.

God instituted prayer to communicate to creatures the dignity of causality.

If we submit everything to reason our religion will be left with nothing mysterious or supernatural. If we offend the principles of reason our religion will be absurd and ridiculous . . . There are...

Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much