My intellect has been shaped under the sign of Spinoza's words, and it has tried not to be astounded, not to laugh, not to cry, but to understand. - Benedictus de Spinoza

This endeavour to do a thing or leave it undone, solely in order to please men, we call ambition, especially when we so eagerly endeavour to please the vulgar, that we do or omit certain things to our own or another's hurt : in other cases it is generally called kindliness.

The supreme mystery of despotism, its prop and stay, is to keep men in a state of deception, and with the specious title of religion to cloak the fear by which they must be held in check, so that they will fight for their servitude as if for salvation.

dulce, que la libertad, he creído hacer una buena obra, y de alguna utilidad, tal vez, enseñando que la libertad de pensar, no tan sólo puede conciliarse con la paz y salvación del estado, sino que no puede destruirse sin destruir al mismo tiempo esa paz del estado y la piedad misma. He aquí lo principal que yo he deseado establecer en este tratado. (TTP Praef.)