Gluttony is the vice of hearts that have no substance. A glutton's soul is entirely in his palate.
1762
[...] making oneself the sole cherished object of the Supreme Being is a much more powerful pride than that which aspires only to be cherished and admired by present and future men. Christian pride hides itself; it has the appearance of its opposite.
1841
What is the malignity of a philosophy that will not grant to humanity and friendship the same rights that are forcedly acknowledged in atrocious sentiments such as hatred and resentment?
1751
A beautiful retreat in war brings as much honor as a proud attack.
1636
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord (1754–1838), Prince de Bénévent
1808
Chrysippus taught that mixtion is broader than temperation.
c. 253-270 AD
He had a firm belief in the eternity of souls.
1580
If to calculate is to reason, to reason is not to calculate. [...] Reasoning is the genus; calculation is only the species.
1805
I admire the difference between our so-called saints, and people of the world who do not affect the reputation for it, yet possess much more of the reality.
1686
Wall painting on red ground: candelabrum, from the imperial villa at Boscotrecase
last decade of the 1st century BCE
The struggle between Liberty and Authority is the most conspicuous feature in the portions of history with which we are familiar.
1859
When one passes away with a body full of health and a soul full of tenderness, how could one not be an object of regret?
4th century BC
[...] having become wise, he esteemed her, and he wept.
1767
[An] absurd exemption [...] is naturally explained among peoples of barbaric origin.
1776
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt
1530
Ronsard and Baïf praised him.
c. 1552-1553
It is impossible for us to see around our own corner: it is a hopeless curiosity that wants to know what other kinds of intellects and perspectives there might be.
1882
What has not been demonstrated is used as a postulate from which to derive a judgment.
1830-1831
What profusion! what audacity! what insane splendor! Meanwhile the poor, hungry, naked, sick, [...] languishes before your eyes, covered in disgrace [...].
1746
Fragmentary marble sarcophagus with scenes from the Oresteia
mid-2nd century CE
To command slaves, the despot is therefore forced to obey ever-restless and imperious militias.
1758
When one trembles at the idea of a crime one does not even believe possible, one must still fear it.
1st century AD
When one is wicked enough to commit a dark deed, one should not have the cowardice to deny it.
1765-1769
one must not be too rigorous when it comes to satisfying our love of the marvelous.
1755
Engraving
18th century
The truth is that any well-written novel, that is to say, one with an original style, always seems immoral.
1926
To say that God revealed himself only to announce mysteries is to say that God revealed himself only to remain unknown, [...] to confuse our minds, to increase our ignorance and our uncertainties.
1766
Which of us [...] is the friend of the people? Is it you who want [...] to hand citizens over to the executioner, or I, who forbid the defilement of the public assembly by the fatal presence of an executioner?
63 BC
To be determined by one's own judgment is not something that destroys Liberty. [...] it is what makes for its usefulness and perfection.
1689
Standing female figurine
ca. 600–480 BCE
Pulverize jade and pearls, and there will be no more thieves. Burn the contracts, break the seals, and men will become honest again.
4th century BC
For my part, I will state clearly the substance of my thought and show clearly what the matter is.
1670
Of all the instruments of production, the greatest productive power is the revolutionary class itself.
1847
Gases are heavy and are heavy fluids, like liquids; but in turn, liquids do not weigh in any other way than solids.
1663
Homeward Bound: "The Great Eastern"
ca. 1866
The investigation of final causes is sterile, and, like a virgin consecrated to God, it bears no fruit.
1623
[One must have] a good diet, using only foods and drinks that refresh the blood, and which purge without any effort.
1643-1649
Laziness is almost always victorious over the love of truth.
1674-1675
Just because something seems true to someone is not a reason for it to be so.
c. 108 AD
Bronze pendant in the form of a paired couple
8th century BCE
I very much regret now not having published it. I first wanted to rewrite it because of the imperfection of its form...
1934
Equality is the basis of liberty, as poverty is the source of servitude.
100-120 AD
The human heart is vaster than one supposes; it can contain at once a taste for the goods of the earth and the love of those of heaven; sometimes it seems to give itself madly to one of the two, but it is never long without thinking of the other.
1835-1840
This happy and natural disposition for the truth consists in being able to choose the true and flee the false. This is what those who are naturally gifted do with ease.
End of the 4th century BC
Statuette of a girl
ca. 550–500 BCE
Habit is a disposition by which one is well or ill disposed, either in regard to oneself or in regard to another.
c. 1270
There must be something in the cause of the comic that is slightly detrimental [...] to social life.
1900
To win a victory, the army must have confidence in itself and in its general.
1855
If repressive law loses ground, restitutive law, which did not exist at all at the origin, is only growing.
1893
Portrait of a Man
1795