45 Quotes by Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle

As astronomy is the daughter of idleness, geometry is the daughter of property.

I hate war, for it spoils conversation.

Modesty in women has two special advantages, – it enhances beauty and veils uncomeliness.

It is the passions that do and undo everything.

A work of morality, politics, criticism will be more elegant, other things being equal, if it is shaped by the hand of geometry.

People almost always do great things without knowing how to do them, and are quite surprised to have done them.

Our sun enlightens the planets that belong to him; why may not every fixed star also have planets to which they give light?

The judgment may be compared to a clock or watch, where the most ordinary machine is sufficient to tell the hours; but the most elaborate alone can point out the minutes and seconds, and distinguish the smallest differences of time.

If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.