The reasoning man who scorns the prejudices of simpletons necessarily becomes the enemy of simpletons; he must expect as much, and laugh at the inevitable. |
The ultimate triumph of philosophy would be to cast light upon the mysterious ways in which Providence moves to achieve the designs it has for man. |
There is no God, Nature sufficeth unto herself; in no wise hath she need of an author. |
There is no more lively sensation than that of pain; its impressions are certain and dependable, they never deceive as may those of the pleasure women perpetually feign and almost never experience. |
There is no more lively sensation than that of pain; its impressions are certain and dependable, they never deceive as may those of the pleasure women perpetually feign and almost never experience. |
They declaim against the passions without bothering to think that it is from their flame philosophy lights its torch. |
Those laws, being forged for universal application, are in perpetual conflict with personal interest, just as personal interest is always in contradiction with the general interest. Good for society, our laws are very bad for the individuals whereof it is composed; for, if they one time protect the individual, they hinder, trouble, fetter him for three quarters of his life. |
To judge from the notions expounded by theologians, one must conclude that God created most men simply with a view to crowding hell |
True felicity lies only in the senses, and virtue gratifies none of them. |
Wolves which batten upon lambs, lambs consumed by wolves, the strong who immolate the weak, the weak victims of the strong: there you have Nature, there you have her intentions, there you have her scheme: a perpetual action and reaction, a host of vices, a host of virtues, in one word, a perfect equilibrium resulting from the equality of good and evil on earth. |
Woman's destiny is to be wanton, like the bitch, the she-wolf; she must belong to all who claim her. |
Your body is the church where Nature asks to be reverenced. |