A feeble body makes a feeble mind. I do not know what doctors cure us of, but I know this: they infect us with very deadly diseases, cowardice, timidity, credulity, the fear of death. What...

I perceive God everywhere in His works. I sense Him in me; I see Him all around me.

The real world has its limits; the imaginary world is infinite. Unable to enlarge the one, let us restrict the other, for it is from the difference between the two alone that are born all...

As she put it, she knew of nothing so ravishing as having a child whom she could whip whenever she was in a bad mood.(“The Queen Fantasque”)

I have never thought, for my part, that man’s freedom consists in his being able to do whatever he wills, but that he should not, by any human power, be forced to do what is...

Liberty may be gained, but can never be recovered.” (Bk2:8)

Children are taught to look down on their nurses (nannies), to treat them as mere servants. When their task is completed the child is withdrawn or the nurse is dismissed. Her visits to her foster-child...

Or, rather, let us be more simple and less vain.

To this motive which encourages me is added another which made up my mind: after I have upheld, according to my natural intelligence, the side of truth, no matter what success I have, there is...

We must powder our wigs; that is why so many poor people have no bread.

I say to myself: “Who are you to measure infinite power?

More than half of my life is past; I have left only the time I need for turning the rest of it to account and for effacing my errors by my virtues.

A child who passes through many hands in turn, can never be well brought up. At every change he makes a secret comparison, which continually tends to lessen his respect for those who control him,...

Die Freiheit des Menschen liegt nicht darin, dass er tun kann, was er will, sondern dass er nicht tun muss, was er nicht will.

Our will is always for our own good, but we do not always see what that is; the people is never corrupted, but it is often deceived…” (Bk2:3)

O Fabricius! What would your great soul have thought, if to your own misfortune you had been called back to life and had seen the pompous face of this Rome saved by your efforts and...

Every person has a right to risk their own life for the preservation of it.

But if the abberations of foolish youth made me forget suc wise lessons for a time,I have the happiness to sense at last that whatever the inclination one may have toward vice,it is difficult for...

Princes always are always happy to see developing among their subjects the taste for agreeable arts and for superfluities which do not result in the export of money. For quite apart from the fact that...

Teach your scholar to observe the phenomena of nature; you will soon rouse his curiosity, but if you would have it grow, do not be in too great a hurry to satisfy this curiosity. Put...

She was dull, unattractive, couldn’t tell the time, count money or tie her own shoe laces… But I loved her

However great a man’s natural talent may be, the act of writing cannot be learned all at once.

El hombre ha nacido libre y en todas partes se halla encadenado.

Such is the pure movement of nature prior to all reflection. Such is the force of natural pity, which the most depraved mores still have difficulty destroying, since everyday one sees in our theaters someone...

Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.

The truth brings no man a fortune.

The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.

To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.

So finally we tumble into the abyss, we ask God why he has made us so feeble. But, in spite of ourselves, He replies through our consciences: ‘I have made you too feeble to climb...

The sword wears out its sheath, as it is sometimes said. That is my story. My passions have made me live, and my passions have killed me. What passions, it may be asked. Trifles, the...

If one divided all of human science into two parts – the one common to all men, the other particular to the learned – the latter would be quite small in comparison with the former....

[T]he mere impulse of appetite is slavery, while obedience to a law which we prescribe to ourselves is liberty.

If there is in this world a well-attested account, it is that of vampires. Nothing is lacking: official reports, affidavits of well-known people, of surgeons, of priests, of magistrates; the judicial proof is most complete....

[T]he man who meditates is a depraved animal.

Truth is an homage that the good man pays to his own dignity.

Ancient politicians talked incessantly about morality and virtue; our politicians talk only about business and money. One will tell you that in a particular country a man is worth the sum he could be sold...

To renounce freedom is to renounce one’s humanity, one’s rights as a man and equally one’s duties.

If there were a nation of Gods, it would govern itself democratically. A government so perfect is not suited to men.

I was not much afraid of punishment, I was only afraid of disgrace.But that I feared more than death, more than crime, more than anything in the world. I should have rejoiced if the earth...

Ah,’ thought the king sadly, shrugging his shoulders, “I see clearly that if one has a crazy wife, one cannot avoid being a fool.'(“Queen Fantasque”)

Liberty is like those solid and tasty foods or those full-bodied wines which are appropriate for nourishing and strengthening robust constitutions that are used to them, but which overpower, ruin and intoxicate the weak and...

I am not made like any of those I have seen. I venture to believe that I am not made like any of those who are in existence. If I am not better, at least...

Civilization is a hopeless race to discover remedies for the evils it produces.