Where ambition can cover its enterprises, even to the person himself, under the appearance of principle, it is the most incurable and inflexible of passions.

Belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the imagination alone is ever able to attain.

There is not to be found, in all history, any miracle attested by a sufficient number of men, of such unquestioned good sense, education and learning, as to secure us against all delusion in themselves.

A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.

The rules of morality are not the conclusion of our reason.

It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.