Pierre Bayle Quotes

It is thus tolerance that is the source of peace, and intolerance that is the source of disorder and squabbling.

In matters of religion, it is very easy to deceive a man and very hard to undeceive him.

The antiquity and general acceptance of an opinion is not assurance of its truth.

If an historian were to relate truthfully all the crimes, weaknesses, and disorders of mankind, his readers would take his work for satire rather than for history.

There was no other God, religion, or lawful magistracy, than conscience, which teaches all men the precepts of Justice, to do no injury, to live honestly, and give everyone his due.

It is pure illusion to think that an opinion which passes down from century to century, from generation to generation, may not be entirely false.

No nations are more warlike than those which profess Christianity.

It is only common prejudice that induces us to believe that atheism is a fearful state.

Properly speaking, history is nothing but the crimes and misfortunes of the human race.

I am a good Protestant, and in the full sense of the term, for from the bottom of my soul, I protest against everything that is said, and everything that is done.

I know too much to be a sceptic and too little to be a dogmatist.

I mention this only to shew that the citations of the most judicious authors frequently deceive us, and consequently that prudence obliges us to examine quotations, by whomsoever alleged.

One must be stark mad, to believe that mankind can subsist without magistrates.

I lay down the Position, That whatever a Conscience well directed allows us to do for the Advancement of Truth, an erroneous Conscience will warrant for advancing a suppos'd Truth.

The furnace of affliction refines us from earthly drossiness, and softens us for the impression of God's own stamp.

I get up and retire when I wish. I go out if I wish and I do not go out if I do not desire to do so, except for the two days on which I give lectures.