If slavery, barbarism and desolation are to be called peace, men can have no worse misfortune.

Nature offers nothing that can be called this man's rather than another's; but under nature everything belongs to all.

To give aid to every poor man is far beyond the reach and power of every man. Care of the poor is incumbent on society as a whole.

When a man is prey to his emotions, he is not his own master.

So long as a man imagines that he cannot do this or that, so long as he is determined not to do it; and consequently so long as it is impossible to him that he should do it.

It may easily come to pass that a vain man may become proud and imagine himself pleasing to all when he is in reality a universal nuisance.

Fame has also this great drawback, that if we pursue it, we must direct our lives so as to please the fancy of men.

A free man, who lives among ignorant people, tries as much as he can to refuse their benefits. .. He who lives under the guidance of reason endeavours as much as possible to repay his fellow's hatred, rage, contempt, etc. with love and nobleness.

Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.