When the tongue or the pen is let loose in a frenzy of passion, it is the man, and not the subject, that becomes exhausted.

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.

A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.

He who dares not offend cannot be honest.

[A]ll churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, are simply human inventions. They use fear to enslave us. They are a monopoly for power and profit.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

O hell! to choose love by another's eye.

I am in love, and the river is beginning to ice over. I’d better go drown myself before I freeze to death.

Listen, I have to spend every single day living with me, so I know for a fact; I'm lovely, I'm completely lovely.

In the future, everybody is going to be a director. Somebody's got to live a real life so we have something to make a movie about.

[Moses] Mendelssohn was a religious Jew. I felt sorry for him.

The rich do get richer - meaning that those who appreciate what they have will get more. Be grateful everyday.

Barack is one of the smartest people you will ever encounter who will deign to enter this messy thing called politics.

I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful.

Conferences at the top level are always courteous. Name-calling is left to the foreign ministers.