Voltaire

Despite the enormous quantity of books, how few people read! And if one reads profitably, one would realize how much stupid stuff the vulgar herd is content to swallow every day.

Marriage is the only adventure open to the cowardly.

All men are by nature free; you have therefore an undoubted liberty to depart whenever you please, but will have many and great difficulties to encounter in passing the frontiers.

All men are born with a nose and five fingers, but no one is born with a knowledge of God.

The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.

All the known world excepting only savage nations is governed by books.

The world embarrasses me and I cannot dream That this watch exists and has no watchmaker.

History should be written as philosophy.

Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.

God gave us the gift of life it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.