Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.
God is not on the side of the big battalions, but on the side of those who shoot best.
Who serves his country well has no need of ancestors.
What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature.
The husband who decides to surprise his wife is often very much surprised himself.
He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise.
The secret of being a bore... is to tell everything.
The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.
It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.
He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.
We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent to be reserved.
The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.
The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.
The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.
He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.
It is not love that should be depicted as blind, but self-love.
Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in Eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity.
Better is the enemy of good.
I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it.
The multitude of books is making us ignorant.
It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
To believe in God is impossible not to believe in Him is absurd.
The ear is the avenue to the heart.
Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent.
Everything's fine today, that is our illusion.
Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.
Illusion is the first of all pleasures.
There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.
Very learned women are to be found, in the same manner as female warriors; but they are seldom or ever inventors.
Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.
Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.
What most persons consider as virtue, after the age of 40 is simply a loss of energy.
Men use thought only as authority for their injustice, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.