I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided if greater pains be the consequence, and pains to be coveted that will terminate in greater pleasures.
The most certain sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness; her state is like the things above the moon, always clear and serene.
I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that tied them together.
I see men ordinarily more eager to discover a reason for things than to find out whether the things are so.
Every man may speak truly, but to speak methodically, prudently, and fully is a talent that few men have.
One open way of speaking introduces another open way of speaking, and draws out discoveries, like wine and love.
Nature clasps all her creatures in a universal embrace; there is not one of them which she has not plainly furnished with all means necessary to the conservation of its being.
Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.
The honor we receive from those that fear us, is not honor; those respects are paid to royalty and not to me.
There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants.
The world is but a school of inquisition; it is not who shall enter the ring, but who shall run the best courses.
It is commonly seen by experience that excellent memories do often accompany weak judgements.
It is not the want, but rather abundance that creates avarice.
Desire and hope will push us on toward the future.
No wind favors he who has no destined port.
And I loathe people who find it harder to put up with a gown askew than with a soul askew and who judge a man by his bow, his bearing and his boots.
Since we cannot match it let us take our revenge by abusing it.
The art of dining well is no slight art, the pleasure no slight pleasure.
It is very easy to accuse a government of imperfection, for all mortal things are full of it.
Reason has so many forms that we do not know which to choose-Experiment has no fewer.