Genius is present in every age, but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up and melt the mass so that it flows forth.

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.

All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone's feelings.

Those who fear the facts will forever try to discredit the fact-finders.

Disturbances in society are never more fearful than when those who are stirring up the trouble can use the pretext of religion to mask their true designs.

Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy.

Oh! how near are genius and madness! Men imprison them and chain them, or raise statues to them.

In general, children, like men, and men, like children, prefer entertainment to education.

Although a man may wear fine clothing, if he lives peacefully; and is good, self-possessed, has faith and is pure; and if he does not hurt any living being, he is a holy man.

And this I know: all these things that now, while we are still in the war, sink down in us like a stone, after the war shall waken again, and then shall begin the disentanglement of life and death.

A man would rather break his donkeys back than give it the carrot it requires to progress.

The tailor put on the girdle, and resolved to go forth into the world, because he thought his workshop was too small for his valor.

I've always liked the classic "young adult" writers like Mark Twain, Jack London, Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens. They write so clearly, and they know how to entertain.

There is something in sickness that breaks down the pride of manhood.

A man without mirth is like wagon without springs, in which one is caused disagreeably to jolt by every pebble over which it turns.

If the constitution goes, I go.

When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door.

Christianity spreads through the joy of disciples who know that they are loved and saved.

You might say what if I screw up? Then screw up big! Go for it! Do a big screw-up!