Men are not to be judged by what they do not know, but by what they know, and by the manner in which they know it.
The favorites of fortune or of fame topple from their pedestals before our eyes without diverting us from ambition.
Great men in teaching weak men to reflect have set them on the road to error.
We can love with all our hearts those in whom we recognize great faults. It would be impertinent to believe that perfection alone has the right to please us; sometimes our weaknesses attach us to each other as much as our virtues.
It is unjust to exact that men shall do out of deference to our advice what they have no desire to do for themselves.
Reason and emotion counsel and supplement each other. Whoever heeds only the one, and puts aside the other, recklessly deprives himself of a portion of the aid granted us for the regulation of our conduct.
We are very wrong to think that some fault or other can exclude virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as a monstrosity or an enigma.
Is it against justice or reason to love ourselves? And why is self-love always a vice?
As it is natural to believe many things without proof, so, despite all proof, is it natural to disbelieve others.
There are men who are happy without knowing it.
Nothing but courage can guide life.
Some are born to invent, others to embellish; but the gilder attracts more attention than the architect.
You can purchase the mind of Pascal for a crown. Pleasures even cheaper are sold to those who give themselves up to them. It is only luxuries and objects of caprice that are rare and difficult to obtain; unfortunately they are the only things that touch the curiosity and taste of ordinary men.
Great men are sometimes so even in small things.
Whatever affection we have for our friends or relations, the happiness of others never suffices for our own.
It is proof of a narrow mind when things worthy of esteem are distinguished from things worthy of love. Great minds naturally love whatever is worthy of their esteem.
All that is unfair, offends us if it’s not beneficial for us.
Magnanimity will not consider the prudence of its motives.
The shortness of life cannot dissuade us from its pleasures, nor console us for its pains.
Ignorance is not lack of intelligence, nor knowledge a proof of genius.