The Impossibility Of Outraging Nature Is The

Religions Are The Cradles Of Despotism.

It Is Not The Opinions Or The Vices Of Private Individuals That Are Harmful To The State, But Rather The Behavior Of Public Figures.

I Am About To Put Foward Some Major Ideas; They Will Be Heard And Pondered. If Not All Of Them Please, Surely A Few Will; In Some Sort, Then, I Shall Have Contributed To The Progress Of Our Age, And Shall Be Content.

The Mechanism That Directs Government Cannot Be Virtuous, Because It Is Impossible To Thwart Every Crime, To Protect Oneself From Every Criminal Without Being Criminal Too; That Which Directs Corrupt Mankind Must Be Corrupt Itself; And It Will Never Be By Means Of Virtue, Virtue Being Inert And Passive, That You Will Maintain Control Over Vice, Which Is Ever Active: The Governor Must Be More Energetic Than The Governed.

Were He Supreme, Were He Mighty, Were He Just, Were He Good, This God You Tell Me About, Would It Be Through Enigmas And Buffooneries He Would Wish To Teach Me To Serve And Know Him?