I have only a small flickering light to guide me in the darkness of a thick forest. Up comes a theologian and blows it out.

The most dangerous madmen are those created by religion, and ... people whose aim is to disrupt society always know how to make good use of them on occasion.

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.

Gaiety is a quality of ordinary men. Genius always presupposes some disorder in the machine.

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey