Quotes

Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.

When I play with my cat, who knows whether she isn't amusing herself with me more than I am with her?

Let an understanding man imagine human nature originally produced without the sense of sight, and consider what ignorance and trouble such a defect would bring upon him, what a darkness and blindness in the soul; he will then see by that of how great importance to the knowledge of truth would be the privation of such another sense, or of two or three, should we be so deprived.

Necessity is a violent school-mistress.

As an enemy is made more fierce by our flight, so pain grows proud to see us truckle under it; she will surrender upon much better terms to those who make head against us.

Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.

It is a disaster that wisdom forbids you to be satisfied with yourself and always sends you away dissatisfied and fearful, whereas stubbornness and foolhardiness fill their hosts with joy and assurance.

A wise man loses nothing, if he but save himself.

There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

I find I am much prouder of the victory I obtain over myself, when, in the very ardor of dispute, I make myself submit to my adversary�s force of reason, than I am pleased with the victory I obtain over him through his weakness.

Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.

How many things served us yesterday for articles of faith, which today are fables for us?

The birth of all things is weak and tender; and therefore we should have our eyes intent on beginnings.

Few men are admired by their servants.

To judge the appearances we receive of things, we should need a judicatory instrument; to verify this instrument, we should need a demonstration; to rectify this demonstration, we should need an instrument: so here we are arguing in a circle. Seeing the senses cannot decide our dispute, being themselves full of uncertainty, we must have recourse to Reason; there is no reason but must be built upon another reason, so here we are retreating backwards to all eternity.

When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her.

Not only does the wind of accidents stir me according to its blowing, but I am also stirred and troubled by the instability of my attitude.

Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play.

“Love and laughter and fear and pain are universal currencies.”

“Three simple words containing the power and potential of a multiverse. I am alive.”