Puede decirse muy bien que no empecé a vivir hasta que me tuve por muerto. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Astronomy was born of superstition, eloquence of ambition, hatred, falsehood and flattery; geometry of avarice; physics of an idle curiosity; and even moral philosophy of human pride. Thus the arts and sciences owe their birth to our vices

The Abbe de Saint-Pierre suggested an association of all the states of Europe to maintain perpetual peace among themselves. Is this association practicable, and supposing that it were established, would it be likely to last?

[Luxury] corrupts both rich and poor, the rich by having it and the poor by wanting it.