“To construct mechanically the brain of a somniferous tale, it is not enough to dissect nonsense & mightily stupefy the reader's intelligence with renowned doses, so as to paralyze his faculties for the rest of his life by the infallible law of fatigue; one must, besides, with good mesmeric fluid, make it somnambulistically impossible for him to move, against his nature forcing his eyes to cloud over at your own fixed stare.”

“Each department of knowledge passes through three stages. The theoretic stage the theological stage and the metaphysical or abstract stage.”

“To understand a science, it is necessary to know its history.”

“Every science consists in the coordination of facts; if the different observations were entirely isolated, there would be no science.”

“The sacred formula of positivism: love as a principle, the order as a foundation, and progress as a goal.”

“Melancholy and sadness are the start of doubt... doubt is the beginning of despair despair is the cruel beginning of the differing degrees of wickedness. ”

“The great universal family of men is a utopia worthy of the most mediocre logic.”

“Taste is the fundamental quality which sums up all the other qualities. It is the nec plus ultra of the intelligence. Through this alone is genius the supreme health and balance of all the faculties.”

“Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on hold fast hold out. Patience is genius.”

“My God, Justin, do you hate him so?""Bah!" said his Grace..."does one hate an adder? Because it is venomous and loathsome one crushes it underfoot, as I shall crush this Comte.”

“According to the philosopher Andre Comte-Sponville: The wise man has nothing left to expect or to hope for. Because he is entirely happy, he needs nothing. Because he needs nothing, he is entirely happy.”