Voltaire

If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated.

This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it.

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.

There are truths which are not for all men, nor for all times.

The superfluous, a very necessary thing.

The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.

Those who attain any excellence, commonly spend life in one pursuit; for excellence is not often gained upon easier terms.

If someone betrays you once, it’s their fault; if they betray you twice, it’s your fault.

The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it cannot be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.

Let a man then know his worth, and keep things under his feet. Let him not peep or steal, or skulk up and down with the air of a charity-boy, a bastard, or an interloper.

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.

Our impartiality is kept for abstract merit and demerit, which none of us ever saw.

It seems to me that the god that is commonly worshipped in civilized countries is not at all divine, though he bears a divine name, but is the overwhelming authority and respectability of mankind combined. Men reverence one another, not yet God.

We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make… that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.

If a better system is thine, impart it; if not, make use of mine.

Few enterprises of great labor or hazard would be undertaken if we had not the power of magnifying the advantages we expect from them.

Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.

Blame is safer than praise.

The natural term of the affection of the human animal for its offspring is six years.

We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love’s light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.

Humanity has unquestionably one really effective weapon