21 quotes
It is very strange that men should deny a creator and yet attribute to themselves the power of creating eels.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
The man, who in a fit of melancholy, kills himself today, would have wished to live had he waited a week.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
It is sometimes said, common sense is very rare.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Morality is everywhere the same for all men, therefore it comes from God; sects differ, therefore they are the work of men.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Books, like conversation, rarely give us any precise ideas: nothing is so common as to read and converse unprofitably. We must here repeat what Locke has so strongly urged—Define your terms.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Such then is the human condition, that to wish greatness for one's country is to wish harm to one's neighbors.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
It is sad that often, to be a good patriot, one must be the enemy of the rest of mankind.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
If you want good laws, burn those you have and make new ones.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
His reputation will go on increasing because scarcely anyone reads him.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
A company of solemn tyrants is impervious to all seductions.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Faith consists in believing what reason cannot.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Prejudice is an opinion without judgement.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Define your terms, you will permit me again to say, or we shall never understand one another.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Les hommes vertueux ont seuls des amis.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly — that is the first law of nature.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
The institution of religion exists only to keep mankind in order, and to make men merit the goodness of God by their virtue. Everything in a religion which does not tend towards this goal must be considered foreign or dangerous.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Ask a toad what is beauty, ... he will answer that it is a female with two great round eyes coming out of her little head, a large flat head, a yellow belly and a brown back.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
Do not most of us resemble that old general of ninety who, having come upon some young officers debauching some girls, said to them angrily: "Gentlemen, is that the example I give you?"
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)
A testimony is sufficient when it rests on: 1st. A great number of very sensible witnesses who agree in having seen well. 2d. Who are sane, bodily and mentally. 3d. Who are impartial and disinterested. 4th. Who unanimously agree. 5th. Who solemnly certify to the fact.
Dictionnaire philosophique portatif (1764)