What sweeter rest is there than that of a peaceful soul, and what is more tiring than anger?
c. 41 AD
What then is the material of the philosopher? His cloak? No, his reason. And what is his goal? [...] To have a sound reason.
c. 108 AD
Even deprivations add to their happiness and honor them in their own eyes for their sacrifices.
1762
He recognized that this way of life was the one he had always desired [...], but from which the foolish love of vain glory had constantly kept him away.
100-120 AD
Standing tambourine player
ca. 600–480 BCE
No political party can exist without an organization, and if the bourgeoisie [...] could [...] make up for the want of this organization, the proletarian class [...] was necessarily compelled to seek it in secret association.
1851-1852
The world [...] has once again become infinite for us: insofar as we cannot refute the possibility that it contains infinite interpretations.
1882
Take away [the freedom of the press], and see how many errors, consecrated by time, will be cited as indisputable axioms!
1772
Which is not to waste time, but to use it well.
1643-1649
Terracotta statuette of Harpocrates
2nd century CE
I have looked in comedy, in farce, in the art of the clown, etc., for the processes of manufacturing the comic.
1900
— But for what purpose was this world created? — To drive us mad.
1759
One must save the sharpness and brilliance of the mind for subjects that deserve it, just as the lion reserves its efforts for dangers worthy of it.
1636
God, this purely ideal, purely rational entity, does not exist outside of our idea, outside of our reason.
1841
Marble portrait bust of a boy
ca. 35–50 CE
I have no desire to leave. I will leave with anguish.
1942
The fate that actually befalls us rarely resembles the one we promised ourselves; at every step we take, we find our expectations disappointed.
1760
To the importance of the undertaking is joined the difficulty, which is no less.
1623
what decides everything is brute force.
1840
Two fragments of a limestone sarcophagus lid with snakes
first half of the 5th century BCE
In Lacedaemon, the schoolmaster would punish children by biting their thumbs.
1580
I will not be sorry to sound out enlightened people on the thoughts I have just explained to you.
1696
The end [...] of this power [...] must have no other end or purpose than the preservation of the members of society [...] their lives, their liberties, and their possessions.
1690
The present time is always [...] the disciple of the preceding time, and [...] we are moved today by the habits [...] acquired under the old social order.
1797-1798
Bronze statuette of a votary
ca. 1600 BCE or later
[The Deluge is a] paternal correction [...] by divine providence, which, for having failed to foresee the malice of men, repented of having made them so malicious, and drowned them once and for all to make them better; which had, as we know, marvelous success.
1768
He [man] could enjoy some peace if he had only reason without passions, or if he had only passions without reason.
1670
our absolution is not given, it is sold.
1926
To succeed in any kind of trade, it is not enough to have the freedom to do it; one must [...] have acquired knowledge, and this knowledge can only be the fruit of experience.
1776
Margaretha van Clootwijk (born about 1580/81, died 1662)
1639
Justice is the feeling of a soul in love with order, and which is content with its own.
1746
Let a poor devil steal a belt buckle, and he will be beheaded. Let a great brigand steal a principality, and he will become a lord [...].
4th century BC
In civilized man, egoism enters into the very heart of higher representations: each of us has our own opinions, our beliefs, our own aspirations, and holds to them.
1893
This internal conflict increases the terror, and gives a more hideous aspect to the phantoms that persecute the unfortunate victims of superstition.
1757
Marble head of a girl from a small statue
3rd century BCE
passions act upon the imagination, and the corrupted imagination strives against reason [...].
1674-1675
If there are foolishly credulous writers, people devoid of common sense [...] the copies should not be so rare; a single one would suffice to resolve the question.
17th century
If a [dissenting] opinion is right, [others] are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth; if it is wrong, they lose an almost equally great benefit: the clearer perception of truth, produced by its collision with error.
1859
To live without committing the slightest injustice is, in my eyes, the most beautiful way to prepare my defense.
4th century BC
Hinge
3900 BCE - 100 CE
Jesus Christ is the end of the law [...], the end that perfects and not the end that brings death.
1263-1264
I am neither unjust nor mad; and perhaps, one day I will prove to you that I could be both.
1741-1784
This flight [from evil] is the resemblance to God, as much as it is in our power; and one resembles God through justice, holiness, and wisdom.
c. 253-270 AD
Desire is the appetite for that which gives pleasure.
384–322 BC
Christ Blessing the Children
ca. 1545–50
It is always four or five who maintain the tyrant, four or five who keep the whole country in servitude.
c. 1552-1553
I lived [...] serving everyone, and trying not to offend anyone: thus I was welcome everywhere.
1518
There is nothing so formidable for a man as prejudice; nothing so desirable for the innocent it pursues as an impartial judgment.
66 BC
Any aristocracy that sets itself completely apart from the people becomes powerless. This is as true in letters as it is in politics.
1835-1840
Wall painting fragment with winged figure
ca. 14–68 CE