Satisfying your needs at the cost of denying your desires is the same as cutting off your feet because you need slippers.
Although people are accused of knowing too little of their weaknesses, it is possible that they know just as little of their qualities.
Although reason, according to the will of Providence, must govern our senses, in two decisive moments for our earthly existence, the senses come to the fore. Thus, firstly, the desire to leave offspring - no sane man would ever have married if he had listened to the voice of reason, and secondly, the fear of death - which, again, contradicts sound judgment: if man did not indulge his senses, he would hate life and wish either it were over sooner or that it had never begun.
Man can be induced (with money or threat) to go to church - but no more than that.
The more sentimental a man is, the more soulless he is.
Honestly, that sounds so good like I said it!
We do not know what is done in heaven; on the other hand, we know for sure what is not done: no one marries and does not marry.
What could be more disgusting than a hearse rolling down the street?
What is the use of shaming cowards - for if they feared shame, they would not be cowards; death - here is the most worthy punishment, because it is the most feared.
I do not answer to God for those doubts that arise in my soul, because these doubts are the effect of that reason that He planted in me.
The cards are badly shuffled, I complain, but only until I get a good hand.
I am inclined to believe that in the day of Judgment, both the learned, with his contempt for morals, and the ignorant, disgusted with faith, will be treated alike, because these sins cannot be redeemed; thus culture and ignorance will end in the same way...
In all times, in all countries, in all situations, what is bad is like a blade of grass, and what is good is rare. In any profession, everything that is most undignified manifests itself with particular insolence.
Enjoying yourself always means not enjoying yourself.
To be free is to do what gives you pleasure.
Great things require boundless consistency.
To know God, you must be God himself.
If people argue for a long time, it means that what they are arguing about is not clear even to themselves.
If we value happiness, how much more should we value reason.
If the crowd begins to judge, all is lost!
If we lived in the world for only two moments, we would give it to reason.
What's the point of philosophizing, what's the point of acting? Don't you know that the world is ruled by fate? Drink hot drinks when it's cold, drink soft drinks in the summer; keep measure in all things, take care of digestion, rest, enjoy and laugh at all these.
There is no evil that does not also give rise to good.
It is the vain attempts to appear spiritual that kill any trace of spirit.
Someone can be useless in the first line, but brilliant in the second line.
What is true and wonderful are the same in all times and among all peoples
When there is nothing to say, there is always stupid talk.
When I can do what I want, it means I am free; but what I want, I want by virtue of necessity.
Someday, perhaps, I will come across a planet where harmony reigns, but as yet no one has shown me where such a planet is to be found.
He who does not master the spirit of his age, attracts all the sadness of this age.