Nothing is a greater obstacle to our progress in knowledge, than a bad performance of a celebrated author; because, before we instruct we must begin … - Montesquieu

Do you think that God will punish them for not practicing a religion which he did not reveal to them?

Pole midagi kummalisemat, kui saata hukatusse suur hulk inimesi selleks, et maapõuest välja tuua kulda ja hõbedat - iseenesest täiesti tarbetuid metalle, mis kujutavad endast rikkust vaid sellepärast, et nad on valitud seda tähistama... (CXVIII kiri).

Translation: Horace and Aristotle told us of the virtues of their fathers, and the vices of their own time, and authors down through the centuries have told us the same. If they were right, men would now be bears.