“Speaking of Newton but also commenting more broadly on education and the Enlightenment: "I have seen a professor of mathematics only because he was great in his vocation, buried like a king who had done well by his subjects.”

“Now, now my good man, this is no time to be making enemies."(Voltaire on his deathbed in response to a priest asking him that he renounce Satan.)”

“Behind every successful man stands a surprised mother-in-law.”

“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.”

“An opportunity fordoing an injury happens a hundred times a day, hut for doing good not once a year," says Zoroaster.”

“Quand celui à qui l'on parle ne comprend pas et celui qui parle ne se comprend pas, c'est de la métaphysiqueWhen he to whom a person speaks does not understand, and he who speaks does not understand himself, that is metaphysics.”

“It is impossible to imitate Voltaire without being Voltaire.”

“A true god surely cannot have been born of a girl, nor died on the gibbet, nor be eaten in a piece of dough... [or inspired] books, filled with contradictions, madness, and horror.”

“Faith consists in believing what reason cannot.”

“But there must be some pleasure in condemning everything--in perceiving faults where others think they see beauties.''You mean there is pleasure in having no pleasure.”

“You are very harsh.''I have seen the world.”